Fire Inspections Unit

Overview

Fire inspections are conducted daily throughout the City of St. Louis and are a primary responsibility of the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Inspectors work to identify conditions that may cause a fire, contribute to fire spread, interfere with firefighting operations, or otherwise place occupants and emergency responders at risk. 

As part of an inspection, personnel may review fire evacuation plans, contingency planning procedures, and documentation of required annual inspections completed by third-party contractors. These reviews help ensure that buildings remain prepared for emergencies and comply with applicable fire and life-safety requirements. 

If an inspector identifies an apparent code violation, a written notice will be issued to the property owner or operator describing the unsafe condition and the time allowed for correction. Correcting hazards promptly helps protect occupants and prevent enforcement action. Failure to address violations within the required timeframe may result in penalties authorized under City ordinance 70796 Section 4: 

[Violation] shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $500, or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. 

Reporting Fire or Life-Safety Concerns

If you observe conditions that may present a fire or life-safety concern, please submit a service request through the Citizens Service Bureau at (314) 622-4800. The Citizens Service Bureau serves as the City's centralized intake system for non-emergency concerns and will route your request to the appropriate department for review and investigation. 

If you believe the matter requires more immediate attention but does not constitute an active emergency, you may contact the Fire Marshal's Office directly for guidance or assistance at (314) 289-1960.

For any situation involving active fire, smoke, immediate danger, or a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately. 

Emergency Access and Infrastructure Compliance

The Bureau of Fire Prevention works to ensure appropriate access for fire suppression apparatus and equipment needed to address emergency situations. As part of their duties, inspectors will review apparatus access, FDC location, emergency response radio coverage, standpipes, and evacuation plans for locations within the city. Current fire safety plans should be on file at the Fire Marshal's Office for all commercial buildings within the city limits. 

Confined Space Awareness and Notification

To ensure the safety of our first responders and the community, property owners and facility managers are required to notify the Fire Marshal's Office of any designated confined spaces located within their buildings or on their grounds. Identifying these areas--which may include tanks, vaults, silos, or underground utility tunnels--is a critical component of pre-incident planning. 

By disclosing these locations, you allow our fire suppression teams to be alerted to potential atmospheric or physical hazards before they arrive on the scene. This information enables the Department to implement specialized rescue protocols and deploy the necessary technical equipment immediately during an emergency. To report a confined space or to update your facility's hazard profile, please contact the Fire Marshal's Office directly at (314) 289-1960.

New Construction and System Installation Inspections

Inspections related to new construction projects--including the installation or modification of fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, or other required detection and suppression equipment--are handled by the Fire Safety Unit of the St. Louis Building Division. 

The Fire Safety Unit is responsible for implementing, administering, and enforcing Code requirements related to construction and system installation. 

For scheduling or inspection questions related to these activities, contact the Fire Safety Unit at (314) 622-5652.