New Construction Review & Inspections

Fire Prevention Services reviews plans, issues fire sprinkler and fire alarm permits and conducts inspections on new construction within the City of Steamboat Springs.

• For information on our plan submittal policy and building permit application sign off policy, click here (pdf).  
• For information on our sprinkler inspection policy, click here (pdf).  
• For information on our fire alarm system inspection policy, click here (pdf).  

Also available is a sprinkler and fire alarm inspection checklist (pdf).

Existing Building Inspections

Fire Prevention Services implemented a program in approximately 1994 called the Building Safety Education Program ( BSEP).  

The program's goals are:

1. To accomplish safety and code compliance through awareness and education.
2. To strive for cooperation and reasonable compliance.
3. To empower building owners and managers to maintain fire safe buildings for thier employees and the public.
4. To maintain a fire safe community and minimize life and property loss is the City of Steamboat Springs.

This program involves the Fire Inspector physically inspecting commercial structures for fire safety.  Another part of this program is the annual liquor license inspections the Fire Inspector performs for renewal or new liquor licenses.  The Fire Inspector will also conduct courtesy residential inspections as his schedule allows. 

Development Permit Reviews

Fire Prevention Services performs a review of all development proposals submitted through the Planning Services Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) process and makes comments on items that pertain to Fire Prevention Services.  A representative from this division attends the weekly TAC meetings held by Planning Service.

Some items that our division reviews for code compliance are fire department access, road widths, water supply, fire flow demand and availability, fire hydrant location, and whether the project requires a fire alarm system or  fire sprinkler system.

To assist developers in the building process, Fire Prevention Services, has created several policies and handouts for use:

• Water Supply Standards including fire hydrant locations for the Steamboat Springs Rural Fire Protection District (SSRFPD).
• Road Access Standards for Fire Apparatus in the City and SSRFPD.
• Dry Hydrant Manual including a Dry Hydrant Permit.
• Fire Flow Requirements and Availability Worksheet.
• Fire Alarm System Specifications (FASS) for the City of Steamboat Springs.
• For new structures that may inhibit normal fire fighter radio communications, we also have Radio Amplification Specifications.

International Fire Code

The City of Steamboat Springs has adopted the International Fire Code. Currently the 2003 version is the adopted version of the code. You can view the amendments to the 2003 International Fire code here. Fire Prevention Services is responsible for enforcing and ensuring compliance with the International Fire code. A part of those duties is the administration of special activity permits. View the ordinance (pdf).

Fire/Arson Investigations

Fire Prevention Services investigates the origin and cause of fires in the City of Steamboat Springs and surrounding Rural Fire Protection District when a loss is valued at over $500.00.  Investigation reports are provided upon written request. In your request, please be sure to provide your name, telephone number, and mailing address as well as the date and address of the fire loss.   When the report is complete you will be contacted for payment. There is a flat fee of $25.00.  If the report is greater than 25 pages, an additional $1 per page will also be collected.  (Checks are to be made payable to “The City of Steamboat Springs”).  We will promptly fulfill your request once payment is received.