Fire Alarm Permit Requirements in Suffolk County, New York

Quick Answer: Suffolk County requires fire alarm system registration with the Suffolk County Police Department ($50 residential/$100 commercial every 2 years). You'll need a NYS Fire Alarm Installer License from the Department of State. Building permits are handled by your local township fire prevention division. Each alarm type (fire, intrusion, etc.) requires separate registration.

When Is a Permit Required?

Fire alarm installations in Suffolk County require multiple permits and registrations:

Suffolk County Police Alarm Registration

Required for all fire alarm systems that:

• Connect to central station monitoring
• Generate automatic police/fire response
• Are located within the Suffolk County Police District

Building/Fire Prevention Permits

Required through your local township for:

• New fire alarm system installations
• System modifications and expansions
• Commercial fire alarm systems
• Multi-family residential buildings
• Systems requiring electrical work

Permit Exemptions

May not require building permits:

• Battery-operated smoke detectors (standalone)
• Minor device additions to existing approved systems
• Five or fewer CO devices in single-occupancy buildings (Town of Brookhaven)

Important: Even exempt work requires compliance with fire codes. Always verify with your local fire prevention division.

Contractor Licensing Requirements

New York State mandates licensing for fire alarm installations:

NYS Fire Alarm Installer License

Required by the NYS Department of State. Requirements include:

• Training: 81-hour approved course
• Examination: Pass NYS state exam
• Age: Minimum 18 years old
• Background check: Fingerprinting required
• Term: 2-year license

Master Electrician Exemption

Master Electricians are exempt from the license exam but must register with NYSDOS.

For complete state licensing information, see our New York Low Voltage License Guide.

Suffolk County Police Alarm Registration

Who Must Register

Registration is required within the Suffolk County Police District (five western townships):

• Babylon
• Brookhaven
• Huntington
• Islip
• Smithtown

Who Should NOT Register with Suffolk County PD

Contact your local jurisdiction instead if located in:

East End Townships: East Hampton, Shelter Island, Southampton, Southold, Riverhead

Villages with own police: Asharoken, Huntington Bay, Lloyd Harbor, Northport, Amityville, Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue, Ocean Beach

Registration Fees

Type	Initial Fee	Biennial Renewal
Residential	$50	$50
Residential (70+ years)	$50	$25
Commercial	$100	$100

How to Register

Suffolk County Police - Alarm Management Program
Phone: (631) 852-5276
Online: SuffolkPD.org Alarm Management
In Person: SCPD Headquarters, 30 Yaphank Avenue (9am-5pm weekdays)

Multiple Alarm Types

Each type of alarm requires separate registration:

• Fire alarm
• Intrusion/burglar alarm
• Hazardous materials alarm

False Alarm Policy

• Unregistered: Fined on first false alarm
• Registered: 2 false alarms allowed before fines
• Fines escalate for subsequent false alarms

Township Building/Fire Prevention Permits

Fire alarm building permits are handled by local townships:

Town of Brookhaven

Division of Fire Prevention handles fire alarm permits. For interconnected systems:

• Single occupancy with 5 or fewer CO devices: scope of work description may substitute for drawings
• Larger systems require full drawings
• Contact Chief Fire Marshal for requirements

Town of Smithtown

Fire Prevention Division at smithtownny.gov

Other Townships

Contact building/fire prevention departments for:

• Town of Babylon
• Town of Huntington
• Town of Islip
• East End townships (Southampton, East Hampton, Riverhead, Southold)

Fire Marshals Association of Suffolk County

FMASCO provides information, education, and training for fire safety across Long Island. Membership includes state, county, and local organizations operating in Suffolk County.

Website: fmasco.org

Fees Summary

Fee Type	Amount	Frequency
Police alarm registration (residential)	$50	Every 2 years
Police alarm registration (commercial)	$100	Every 2 years
Building/fire permit	Varies by township	Per project
Late renewal fee	$10	If past due

Residential vs. Commercial Requirements

Residential Fire Alarms

For homes in Suffolk County:

• Police alarm registration required if monitored
• Building permit required for most installations
• Smoke detector placement per NYS code
• CO detectors required per local requirements
• Lower registration fees ($50)

Commercial Fire Alarms

Commercial installations require:

• NYS Fire Alarm Installer License mandatory
• Police alarm registration ($100)
• Building/fire prevention permits
• NFPA 72 compliance
• Engineered system design
• Fire department connection
• Annual inspection documentation

Pro Tips from Experienced Contractors

1. Register each alarm type separately. Fire alarms and burglar alarms require separate registrations with Suffolk County PD. Don't assume one registration covers all alarm types.

2. Know your coverage area. Suffolk County is split between the Police District and other jurisdictions. East End townships and certain villages have their own requirements.

3. Simplified permits for small additions. Town of Brookhaven allows scope-of-work descriptions for small CO detector additions. Check if your township offers similar streamlined processes.

4. FMASCO is a resource. The Fire Marshals Association of Suffolk County provides training and education. Building relationships with local fire marshals helps navigate permit requirements.

5. Register before commissioning. Complete police alarm registration before final system testing. Unregistered systems face fines on first false alarm during testing.

Stay Ahead of Permit Activity

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

LVN Signal monitors permit activity across New York and alerts you to opportunities the moment they're filed.

→ Explore LVN Signal

Related Resources

• New York Low Voltage License Requirements
• Suffolk County Police Alarm Program
• Suffolk County Fire Marshal's Office
• Fire Marshals Association of Suffolk County

Last updated: January 2025. Requirements vary by township—always verify with Suffolk County PD and your local fire prevention division before beginning work.