Fire Alarm Permit Requirements in Pinal County, Arizona

Quick Answer: Fire alarm system installations in Pinal County require building permits from Pinal County Development Services for commercial projects. Contractors must hold an Arizona ROC C-16 (Fire Protection Systems) or C-67 (Low Voltage) license. Systems with monitoring also require a $18 annual alarm permit from the Pinal County Sheriff's Department.

When Are Permits Required?

Fire alarm installations in Pinal County have these permit requirements:

Building/Fire Permit Required

• New commercial fire alarm system installations
• Modifications to existing fire alarm systems
• Fire alarm systems in new construction
• Tenant improvement projects affecting life safety systems
• Systems required by fire code based on occupancy

Alarm Monitoring Permit Required

• Fire alarm systems with central station monitoring
• Systems that dispatch fire department on alarm
• Annual permit fee: $18

Typically Exempt

• Single-family residential smoke detectors
• Like-for-like device replacements
• Minor repairs not affecting system operation

Fire District Coordination

Pinal County contains multiple fire districts. If your project is within a Fire District, fire plans must be submitted to the Fire Marshal of that district for review and approval.

Major Fire Districts in Pinal County

Fire District	Coverage Area
Arizona City Fire District	Arizona City area
Casa Grande Fire Department	City of Casa Grande
Eloy Fire District	Eloy area
Coolidge Fire Department	City of Coolidge
Florence Fire Department	Town of Florence
Maricopa Fire Department	City of Maricopa

A copy of the Fire Marshal's approval must be provided to the Pinal County Chief Building Official prior to final inspection.

Arizona Contractor Licensing Requirements

Fire alarm installations require proper Arizona ROC licensing:

Primary License Classifications

Classification	Experience	Scope
C-16 Fire Protection Systems	4 years	Commercial fire alarm, sprinkler systems
CR-16 Fire Protection (Dual)	4 years	Commercial and residential
C-67 Low Voltage	2 years	Commercial alarm systems
CR-67 Low Voltage (Dual)	2 years	Commercial and residential

C-16 License Scope

The C-16 Fire Protection Systems classification allows:

• Installation, alteration, and repair of fire protection systems
• Fire alarm systems and signaling devices
• Restaurant hood protection systems
• Fire pumps and drivers
• Sprinkler systems
• Required excavation and piping

C-16 Exam Requirements

• Questions: 75 multiple-choice
• Time limit: 180 minutes
• Passing score: 70%
• Format: Semi open-book
• Business Management exam: Also required
• Exam fee: $66 (one exam) or $116 (two exams)

Bond Requirements (Based on Gross Volume)

Annual Gross Volume	Bond Amount
$150,000 or less	$2,500
$150,001 - $500,000	$7,000
$500,001 - $1 million	$17,500
$1 million - $5 million	$25,000
$5 million - $10 million	$37,500
Over $10 million	$50,000

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

Pinal County Building Permit Process

Contact Information

• Phone: (520) 509-3555 or (520) 866-6442
• Email: BuildingSafety@pinal.gov
• Address: 820 East Cottonwood Lane, Casa Grande, AZ
• Online Portal: pinal.gov/Building-Safety
• Inspection Line: (520) 866-6299

Deferred Submittal Process

For commercial projects, fire alarm plans can be listed as a deferred submittal on building plans:

1. Note fire alarm as deferred on main building permit application
2. Submit fire alarm plans to Building Safety for review
3. If in a Fire District, also submit to Fire Marshal
4. Obtain approval before occupancy
5. Provide Fire Marshal report to Chief Building Official

Required Documentation

• Floor plan drawn to scale showing device locations
• Fire alarm control panel and annunciator locations
• Battery/voltage drop calculations
• Conductor types and sizes
• Equipment specification sheets
• Electrical riser diagram
• Sequence of operations
• Central station monitoring information

Pinal County Alarm Permit

For monitored fire alarm systems, an alarm permit is required:

Permit Details

Requirement	Details
Initial Fee	$18
Annual Renewal	$18
Free False Alarms	3 per permit year
Free Panic Alarms	1 per permit year
False Alarm Penalty	$83 after free allowance

Alarm Permit Contact

• Mail: Pinal County Sheriff's Department, ATTN: Alarm Unit, P.O. Box 867, Florence, AZ 85132
• Phone: (520) 866-5173
• Website: pinal.gov/Alarm-Permits

Jurisdiction Note

The County alarm permit applies only to unincorporated areas. Incorporated cities have their own ordinances:

• Casa Grande: Contact Casa Grande Fire Department
• Eloy: Contact city directly
• Maricopa: Contact city directly
• Coolidge: Contact city directly
• Florence: Contact city directly

Code Compliance

Adopted Codes

Pinal County and the Arizona State Fire Marshal enforce:

• IFC 2018 - International Fire Code (State Fire Code)
• NFPA 72 - National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code
• NFPA 70 (NEC) - National Electrical Code

Key NFPA 72 Requirements

• Sound levels: Minimum 75 dB in occupied areas
• Secondary power: 24 hours standby + 5 minutes alarm
• Annual testing: Required for all systems
• Documentation: Record of completion required

Fees and Timeline

Fee Type	Amount	Notes
Plan Review	Based on project value	Due at submittal
Building Permit	Based on project value	Due at issuance
Alarm Permit	$18/year	For monitored systems
Plan Review Time	5-15 business days	Varies by complexity

Residential vs. Commercial

Residential Fire Alarm

• Single-family homes: smoke detectors per IRC, not full systems
• Multi-family (3+ units): may require monitored system
• CR-16 or CR-67 license acceptable
• Alarm permit if monitored

Commercial Fire Alarm

• Building permit and plan review required
• Fire Marshal approval in Fire Districts
• NFPA 72 compliance mandatory
• C-16 or C-67 license required
• Central station monitoring typically required

Pro Tips from Experienced Contractors

• Identify Fire District early - Different districts have different review processes
• Complete submittals - Incomplete plans delay review significantly
• Include all calculations - Battery and voltage drop calculations catch rejections
• Coordinate with GC - Fire alarm often on critical path for occupancy
• Test before final - Complete all testing before calling inspection
• Verify monitoring - Central station must be active for final approval
• Keep records - Record of completion required for turnover

Arizona State Fire Marshal

For projects under State Fire Marshal jurisdiction (state buildings, schools):

• Online Portal: dffm.az.gov/fire-marshal
• Plans reviewed per IFC 2018 and NFPA standards
• Paper applications no longer accepted
• All submittals through online Permit and Plan portal

Stay Ahead of Permit Activity

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Related Permit Guides

• Arizona Low Voltage Contractor License Guide
• Pinal County Security Camera Permit Requirements
• Browse All Permit Guides

Summary

Fire alarm installations in Pinal County require coordination with multiple authorities:

• Building permit from Pinal County Development Services
• Fire Marshal approval if within a Fire District
• Alarm permit ($18/year) for monitored systems
• ROC C-16 or C-67 license required
• NFPA 72 and IFC 2018 compliance mandatory

Contact Pinal County Building Safety at (520) 509-3555 for permit questions, or the Sheriff's Alarm Unit at (520) 866-5173 for alarm registration.