Fire Inspection Fees

Re-inspections are required to ensure Fire Code compliance when violations are identified during the first inspection.

• Fire — Service Charges and Fees

Process for inspection streams

1. Fire safety inspection occurs (proactive inspection, complaint, or request) and the building is found compliant:
   • If a fire prevention officer (FPO) inspects a building and finds no deficiencies in the Ontario Fire Code or other applicable legislation, only the primary inspection will apply for request inspections.
   • Primary inspection fees vary depending on occupancy type. Refer to the fee schedule and confirm with an FPO when booking an inspection.
2. Fire safety inspection occurs (proactive inspection, complaint, or request) and deficiencies are noted with time given to achieve compliance:
   • If a building is non-compliant with the Fire Code, the FPO will issue the person responsible for the property an inspection report or order. Where a report or order is issued, the FPO will return to complete the inspection process, confirm violations have been fixed, and the report or order has been complied with.
   • If violations are fixed when the FPO returns to complete the inspection process, the primary inspection fee plus additional fees for cost recovery are applied. Refer to the fee schedule; the hourly staff rate is based on rank.
3. Additional fees levied — full recovery of costs
   • If an FPO attends the property to follow up with a re-inspection verifying compliance with an inspection order after the compliance date, and the order has not been complied with, full cost recovery occurs. This includes the initial inspection fee, all administrative time incurred by the FPO, and any court costs or other fees incurred by the fire department.
   • If an FPO attends a building and discovers egregious fire safety violations and Fire Code contraventions, there will be a prosecution after that inspection. In these circumstances, full cost recovery occurs and includes the initial inspection fee, all administrative time, court costs, and other fees incurred by the fire department. This applies when the fire department is compelled to act pursuant to the FPPA to close a building or an immediate threat to a life situation.

Inspection requests — additional fees

• All requested inspections are charged the initial inspection fee. The inspection process and applicable fees are the same as items one to three.

Additional considerations

• The initial inspection fee is based on a set amount of time and is estimated by the occupancy type.
• If additional time is required for the inspection beyond the prescribed time, it is billed at the hourly staff rate and rounded up to the full hour.
• A limited inspection verifying compliance with a single or minor issue that would not prompt a full building inspection may be subject to only the hourly staff rate rounded up to the full hour; this is at the discretion of the FPO.

Achieving compliance and avoiding re-inspection fees

• Property owners are responsible for maintaining buildings in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code. Taking immediate action to rectify deficiencies increases life safety, resulting in fewer Fire Code violations.
• WFES documents Fire Code violations through either a report or order so that property owners can take appropriate action before an FPO returns to conduct a re-inspection.

Invoicing

• An invoice is sent to the property owner indicating the inspection's particulars and applicable fees.
• A property owner may receive more than one invoice.

Fire safety plan notes

An initial fire safety plan review by fire prevention staff is $209.48 plus HST. In addition to initial invoicing, subsequent reviews will be double the previous fee.

A fee may not apply for the following reason(s):

1. A minor change to a building that leads to a fire safety plan revision.
   Revisions that involve replacing pages of the plan to address one specific change in a building resource or fire protection system, such as but not limited to:
   • replacing a fire alarm panel
   • relocating a sprinkler valve
   • replacing emergency power supply systems
   • installation of an electromagnetic locking device
   • relocation of a utility shutoff valve or switch
   
   
2. Confirming with the FPO the best method for ensuring the fire safety plan is current and approved by WFES.
    
3. Clerical changes that do not impact life safety or fire protection systems, and do not require changes to the schematics, are to be updated on the owner’s approved copy of the fire safety plan at the site. This information is valuable to WFES for contacting the appropriate individuals if needed. Owners are asked to email the revised pages to fireprevention@welland.ca for WFES records.

   Examples of clerical changes include:

   • changes to human resource information, such as owner or property management, superintendent, fire protection company, or monitoring company
   • modifications to the list of residents requiring assistance
   
   
4. Submitting updates to a fire safety plan could initiate a request for more information or an inspection of the property, and these actions may be subject to fees.
   Fee amounts are subject to change pending amendments to the Fees and Charges by-law.