Fire Alarm Permit Requirements in Maricopa County, Arizona

Quick Answer: Fire alarm system installation in unincorporated Maricopa County, Arizona requires permits through the applicable fire district and Maricopa County Planning and Development. Requirements vary by jurisdiction – the Arizona State Fire Marshal reviews projects in areas without locally adopted fire codes, while fire districts like Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (AFMA) handle their own plan review. All installations must comply with NFPA 72 and the 2018 International Fire Code.

Understanding Jurisdiction

Fire alarm permit requirements in Maricopa County depend on your specific location:

Incorporated Cities

If your property is within city limits (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, etc.), follow that city's fire department requirements.

Unincorporated Maricopa County

Unincorporated areas may fall under different fire districts:

• Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (AFMA) – Serves Sun City West, Sun Lakes, Tonopah, Wittmann, and other communities
• Rural Metro Fire – Serves various unincorporated areas
• Arizona State Fire Marshal – Reviews projects in areas without locally adopted fire codes

Verify Your Fire District

Before applying for permits, confirm which fire district serves your property. This determines your plan review and inspection authority.

Permit Requirements Overview

When Permits Are Required

• New fire alarm system installations
• Modifications to existing systems
• Tenant improvements affecting fire alarm
• Panel replacements or upgrades
• Adding detection devices
• Any construction requiring building permit

Required Permits

Permit Type	Issuing Authority	Required For
Fire Alarm System Permit	Local fire district or State Fire Marshal	All new installations
Building Permit	Maricopa County Planning & Development	When part of construction

Arizona State Fire Marshal Requirements

The Arizona Office of the State Fire Marshal (part of the Department of Forestry and Fire Management) reviews projects in areas without locally adopted fire codes.

When State Fire Marshal Review Applies

• State and county buildings
• Public, charter, and private schools
• Construction in areas without local fire code
• All occupancy types except residential dwellings under 5 units (in non-adopted areas)

Submittal Requirements

• Plans must be submitted through the online Permit and Plan portal
• Paper applications are no longer accepted
• Documents reviewed based on adopted State Fire Code (IFC 2018) and NFPA standards

Review Timeline

Average plan review is approximately 45 days.

Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (AFMA)

The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority covers over 275 square miles serving 75,000+ residents in communities including:

• Sun City West
• Sun Lakes
• Tonopah
• Wittmann
• Other unincorporated areas

AFMA Fire Alarm Requirements

Per AFMA Fire Code amendments:

• Structures requiring permit must be protected by fully automatic fire alarm system
• Installation per NFPA 72 requirements
• All fire alarms must be addressable systems with Class "A" wiring
• Monitoring by central station as defined by NFPA 72 Section 3.3.193.1

AFMA Plan Review Requirements

All projects within AFMA boundaries require formal review for fire code compliance, including:

• New construction
• Tenant improvements
• Installation or modification of fire protection systems
• Hazardous operations

Contractor Licensing Requirements

Arizona requires fire alarm contractors to hold licenses from multiple agencies:

Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)

The Arizona ROC licenses all construction work. Relevant classifications:

License	Type	Scope
C-16	Commercial	Fire protection systems
CR-16	Dual	Commercial and residential fire protection
C-67	Commercial	Low voltage systems including alarms
CR-67	Dual	Commercial and residential low voltage

Arizona Board of Technical Registration (BTR)

The BTR requires alarm agent and alarm business certification for anyone selling, installing, or servicing alarm systems.

For complete Arizona licensing information, see our Arizona Low Voltage Contractor License Guide.

Application Process

Step 1: Identify Your Fire District

Determine which fire authority has jurisdiction over your property location.

Step 2: Prepare Plans

Fire alarm plans must include:

• Complete system layout and device locations
• Panel specifications
• Power supply calculations
• Zone maps
• NFPA 72 compliance documentation

Step 3: Submit for Review

• State Fire Marshal: Use online portal at dffm.az.gov
• AFMA: Submit to AFMA Code Enforcement
• County: Submit through Maricopa County Permit Center

Step 4: Permit Issuance

Obtain permits before beginning installation.

Step 5: Installation and Inspection

Complete work per approved plans and schedule inspection.

Contact Information

Authority	Contact	Purpose
Arizona State Fire Marshal	dffm.az.gov	State jurisdiction areas
AFMA Code Enforcement	afma.az.gov/firecode	AFMA service area
Maricopa County Permits	maricopa.gov/5116	Building permits

Code Requirements

Adopted Codes

• 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) – State adopted code
• NFPA 72 – Fire alarm installation standard
• NFPA 70 (NEC) – Electrical requirements

Key Requirements

Per Arizona State Fire Code, all structures must meet specifications for:

• Fire flow
• Fire department access
• Occupant egress
• Emergency lighting
• Fire protection systems

AFMA-Specific Requirements

• Addressable fire alarm systems required
• Class "A" wiring mandatory
• Central station monitoring required
• Automatic fire detection per NFPA 72

Fees and Timeline

Item	Details
State Fire Marshal Plan Review	~45 days average
Permit Fees	Varies by authority and project scope
Inspection Fees	Per local fire district schedule

Residential vs. Commercial

Residential

• Single-family homes under 5 units may be exempt from State Fire Marshal review
• Smoke alarms required per building code
• Monitored systems may require registration with local authority

Commercial

• Plan review required for all installations
• Central station monitoring typically mandatory
• Addressable systems often required
• Annual inspection and testing required

Pro Tips from Experienced Contractors

• Identify fire district first – Jurisdiction determines your entire permit process
• Plan for 45-day State review – If State Fire Marshal applies, build this into your timeline
• AFMA requires Class A wiring – Don't design with Class B in AFMA areas
• Use online portals – Paper applications are no longer accepted for state reviews
• Verify BTR credentials – All technicians need valid alarm agent certification
• Document central station – Have monitoring information ready for inspectors

Stay Ahead of Permit Activity

Want to know when fire alarm projects hit permits in Maricopa County before they reach bid boards?

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Related Guides

• Arizona Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements
• Phoenix, Arizona Fire Alarm Permit Requirements
• Scottsdale, Arizona Fire Alarm Permit Requirements
• Chandler, Arizona Fire Alarm Permit Requirements
• Mesa, Arizona Fire Alarm Permit Requirements

Last updated: January 2026. Requirements vary by fire district. Always verify jurisdiction and current requirements before beginning your project.