The Fire Prevention Bureau operates under the direction of the Fire Marshal through the authority of the County Fire Chief. Our mission is to improve public safety by protecting life and property through fire safety inspections, public education, plan reviews, permitting, and enforcement programs. The Bureau is comprised of state certified Fire Safety Inspectors, most of which holding the rank of Lieutenant, who are state certified Firefighters that can be deployed at any incident where Fire Rescue is needed. The majority of the Inspectors are either state certified Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics who have medical equipment at the office or in their vehicles to assist citizens having a medical emergency.

The Fire Prevention Bureau plan review and permit application review process includes site and structural reviews along with related site and structural inspections which includes certificate of occupancy approvals. Other plan submittals and permit applications that are reviewed by our Fire Plan Examiners and Inspectors include fire alarms, sprinkler systems, suppression systems, LP gas, commercial generator installations, and all types of special events. To proactively minimize review issues we offer pre-submittal meetings with Architects, Engineers, and Contractors, prior to their official plan submittal. See our various permit applications with fee calculator on this website for further information.

The Fire Prevention Bureau fire safety inspection process is authorized through state statutes and local ordinances to provide regular inspections on new and existing commercial and multi-family buildings on a regular basis. We track the fire safety status of nearly 5000 buildings in Indian River County for compliance. The Bureau also respond to incidents where structural damage has occurred to commercial and multi-family properties to facilitate the occupants return in a reasonable, expeditious, and safe manner.