Skip to content
PremiseBay
Sign in

Florida commercial inspection requirements

The Division of State Fire Marshal licenses fire equipment dealers and sprinkler contractors and runs the boiler program, which covers boilers in places of public assembly. Alarm contractors are licensed under Chapter 489. Each water utility runs its own backflow program.

The rules in force across Florida

Inspection rules in Florida
InspectionHow oftenWho may do itPaperwork
Fire extinguisher inspectionEvery yearA fire equipment dealer licensed by the Division of State Fire Marshal (Class A, B or C for extinguishers) and a technician with a valid permit.It is unlawful to service a unit without attaching a completed tag. Each six-year maintenance is recorded on a decal on the shell naming the agency.
Fire sprinkler inspectionEvery yearA fire protection system contractor certificateholder (Contractor I for all types, or Contractor II for water sprinkler systems), or a permittee they employ. Inspectors are registered with the State Fire Marshal.The contractor gives the owner and the local fire authority the uniform summary report. The authority may accept it by mail, hand delivery, electronically or through a third-party vendor, so ask your local fire department which.
Fire alarm inspectionEvery yearA licensed fire alarm contractor or certified unlimited electrical contractor, or their fire alarm system agents, under Florida Statutes Chapter 489 Part II (Department of Business and Professional Regulation).A statewide filing rule for alarm reports was not confirmed. The contractor gives the owner a report, and some local fire departments want it uploaded. Ask yours.
Kitchen fire suppression inspectionEvery 6 monthsFor pre-engineered systems (most restaurant hood systems), a Class D fire equipment dealer licence plus a permitted technician. Systems that are not pre-engineered need a fire protection system contractor.The tag must be attached and show the month of work. The owner gets a copy of the report at the time of inspection. If the system is in violation, a copy goes to the local fire authority within 30 days of service.
Kitchen hood cleaningEvery month to every year, by typeNo Florida hood cleaner licence was found. NFPA 96 calls for trained, qualified cleaners acceptable to the local fire official.The cleaner documents each cleaning and gives the owner a report for the fire inspector.
Grease trap cleaningNational baseline, no local rule on fileEvery 3 monthsA waste hauler registered or permitted by the state and often the city.No national interval exists. Local pretreatment rules set it, commonly every 90 days or sooner when grease and solids reach 25 percent of the wetted depth (Austin uses 50 percent in the final compartment). Keep manifests on site (3 to 5 years in the Texas cities listed here).
Backflow testingEvery 2 yearsEach water utility sets tester qualifications in its cross-connection program (AWWA M14). Utilities usually require a certified tester, and some require local registration.The rule sets annual testing but each utility decides how reports are filed. See Miami-Dade, Tampa and Orlando entries.
Boiler inspectionEvery year to every 2 years, by typeThe chief boiler inspector, a deputy boiler inspector, or a special boiler inspector employed by the insurer (Authorized Inspection Agency). Insured boilers are scheduled with the insurer, uninsured with the State Fire Marshal.DFS Boiler Safety public portal. The inspector files the report with the chief boiler inspector (within 15 days for insurer inspectors). The state invoices the owner for the certificate fee. Once paid, the certificate is mailed or found on the public portal.

Cities with their own programs

These cities run their own grease or backflow programs, with their own registration and filing.

Check a building in Florida

Tick what's on site and see each date, worked out from the rules above.

Optional. Used to find pros nearby.

Some cities set their own grease or backflow rules.

What kind of place is it?
What's on site?
Free. No account needed.

Sources