Obtaining Fire Permits and a Fire Certificate of Occupancy

From Gwinnett County Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance, FPP-2012

Who needs a fire certificate of occupancy?

All commercial businesses within Gwinnett County, including those within city limits, must have a certificate of occupancy issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Businesses within the city limits of Loganville are an exception because Loganville has its own fire department, and issues certificates of occupancy within the city.

What is a fire certificate of occupancy?

A certificate of occupancy is a document that indicates plans or an application have been submitted, reviewed, and approved; appropriate permits have been issued; fire inspections have been completed; and the building or tenant space, and related area, is free of fire code deficiencies, and safe to occupy. The certificate of occupancy for businesses in unincorporated Gwinnett County (not within a city limits) will be issued jointly by the Fire Marshal’s Office and Planning and Development.

When are permits and a certificate of occupancy required?

Owners, tenants, their agents, or designees of all buildings, tenant spaces, and commercial sites, are required to submit plans and specifications of the project to Fire Plan Review, prior to obtaining the required fire permits.

Permits must be obtained before:

• Construction
• Demolition
• Change of use or occupancy classification
• Tenant name change
• Ownership change in buildings, tenant spaces, or commercial sites
• Addition, removal, or changes of any fire protection system

A final inspection and certificate of occupancy, for each business establishment, must be obtained from the Office of the Fire Marshal before occupying any building covered by article FPP-2012 Sec. 42-36 or conducting business.

How to get a permit leading to a certificate of occupancy?

You may submit an application and/or plans to Gwinnett County Fire Plan Review online at GwinnettZIP.com

To complete an application or submit plans in person, go to Gwinnett County Planning and Development, located at 446 West Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 , Monday through Friday, between 8:00am and 4:00pm. If your business is located within a city limit, you will only need to see a Fire Plan Reviewer. County projects will be routed appropriately.

Map and Directions

Note: Permits and certificates of occupancy are not available at Fire Headquarters, located at 408 Hurricane Shoals Road NE, Lawrenceville.

What information will you need to provide?

The minimum information needed will include the address, parcel, building number, suite number, city, and zip code of the business, and basic tenant/owner information. The intended use of the space will need to be clearly described to enable the plan reviewer to determine the occupancy classification.

For tenant name changes and owner changes, with no construction or renovation, and no change of occupancy, plans may not be required at the discretion of Fire Plan Review.

When the project involves construction or renovation, construction documents shall be submitted online or in one or more sets with each permit application. Construction documents must be of sufficient clarity and detail to indicate the location, nature, and extent of the work proposed and show that the work conforms to the provisions of the fire code.

Some plans will require the seal of an appropriate registered design professional, architect, or engineer in accordance with the Gwinnett County Ordinance and state law.

How much will it cost?

The Office of the Fire Marshal and Fire Plan Review will collect fees as established in the Gwinnett County Land Development and Other Services Fee Schedule as may be amended for construction permits, certificates of occupancy, and other fire-related permits, plan reviews, revisions, variances, certificates, and re-inspections.

Fees may be waived for projects that serve a governmental purpose in accordance with the County’s Permit Fee Waiver Policy and the Gwinnett County Land Development and Other Services Fee Schedule.

How do I schedule a fire inspection?

Certificate of occupancy inspections may only be scheduled if the appropriate permit has been issued by Fire Plan Review.

Electrical power to the building must be on at the time of the final Fire Inspection.

To schedule fire inspections online, visit GwinnettZIP.com

For a fire inspection related to a new certificate of occupancy, you will enter your county issued permit number.

How do I contact Fire Plan Review?

For more information, email Fire.PlanReview@GwinnettCounty.com or call Planning and Development at 678.518.6000 and ask for Fire Plan Review.