Oberlin Fire Department, Ohio

TYPES OF PERMITS AND FEES:

        Fire code compliance process fee

        Fire code operational permits

        Fire code construction review fees

        Site assessment fee

        False and nuisance fire alarm fees

        Fire alarm monitoring fee

        Motor vehicle collision and incident fees

        EMS transport fees

The following is a list of permits issued by us, along with brief descriptions of what activities require a permit. Be sure to check our On-Line Permit Applications section to see if the application you need is available on-line, or print out the General Application. If so, print out the application and mail a completed copy with the appropriate fees to: Oberlin Fire Department, 430 South Main, Oberlin OH 44074.

If your application is not available on-line, call (440) 774-3211 to request it.

NEW PERMIT AND FEE REQUIREMENTS, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 18, 2005

1. FIRE CODE COMPLIANCE PROCESS FEES:

This fee is charged for Fire Prevention Code compliance with new construction. This service fees includes plans review of general construction documents for fire code compliance and site visits. Fee is based on valuation of work for the building permit, and does not apply to one- and two-family dwellings or accessory buildings.

Valuation
Fee Calculation

$1 - 500,000 Multiply by factor 0.003

$500,001 - 1,000,000 Multiply by factor 0.0015

$1,000,001 - 5,000,000 Add fee of $3.00 per $10,000 valuation

$5,000,001 or more Add fee of $1.50 per $10,000 valuation

2.    FIRE CODE OPERATIONAL PERMITS:

Section

Description

Permit Required

Permit Fee

Permit Term

Inspection Fee

On-line Applications

105.6.1 Aerosol products Yes $65 Annual No

105.6.2 Amusement buildings Yes $50 Annual Note 5 Appl

105.6.3 Aviation facilities Yes $50 Annual No

105.6.4 Carnivals and fairs Note 1 Yes $50 Event No

105.6.5 Battery systems Yes $95 System No

105.6.6 Cellulose nitrate film Yes $45 Annual No

105.6.7 Combustible dust-producing operations Yes $65 Annual No

105.6.8 Combustible fibers Yes $65 Annual No

105.6.9 Compressed gases Note 10 $50 Annual No

105.6.10 Covered mall buildings Yes $50 Annual No

105.6.11 Cryogenic fluids Note 11 $50 Annual No

105.6.12 Cutting and welding Yes $30 Annual No Appl

105.6.13 Dry cleaning plants Yes $45 Annual No

105.6.14 Exhibits and trade shows Yes $90 Event No

105.6.15 Explosives, blasting, ammunition Note 12 varies Annual Note 8

105.6.16 Fire hydrants and valves Yes $25 No

105.6.17 Flammable and combustible liquids Yes Note 3 Annual Note 5 Appl

105.6.18 Floor finishing, bowling lanes Yes $65 Event No

105.6.19 Fruit and crop ripening Yes $65 Annual No

105.6.20 Fumigation and thermal insecticidal fogging Yes $35 Annual No

105.6.21 Hazardous materials - storage, dispense, use, handle Note 9 $75 Annual No

105.6.22 Hazardous production materials facilities Yes $85 Annual No

105.6.23 High-piled storage Yes $75 Annual No

105.6.24 Hot work operations Yes $65 Annual No Appl

105.6.25 Industrial ovens Yes $30 Annual No

105.6.26 Lumber yards and woodworking plants Yes $75 Annual No

105.6.27 Liquid- or gas fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings Yes $40 Annual No

105.6.28 LP-gas, use and resale Yes Note 4 Annual No Appl

105.6.29 Magnesium Yes $40 Annual No

105.6.30 Miscellaneous combustible storage Yes $50 Annual No

105.6.31 Open burning (except recreational fires) Yes $20 Event Note 6 Appl

105.6.32 Open flames and torches Yes $65 Event No Appl

105.6.33 Open flames and candles
with other permits ($10) Yes $65 Event No Appl

105.6.34 Organic coating Yes $75 Annual No

105.6.35 Places of assembly Yes Note 1 Annual No Appl

105.6.36 Private fire hydrants Yes $45 Annual No

105.6.37 Fireworks, pyrotechnic special effects Yes $100 Event Note 8

105.6.38 Pyroxylin plastics Yes $50 Annual No

105.6.39 Refrigeration equipment Yes $50 Annual No

105.6.40 Repair garages and motor fuel-dispensing facilities Yes $50 Annual No

105.6.41 Rooftop heliports Yes $50 Annual No

105.6.42 Spraying or dipping operation Yes $75 Annual No

105.6.43 Storage of scrap tires and byproducts Yes $50 Annual No

105.6.44 Tents, membrane structures, canopies Yes NC Event No Appl

105.6.45 Tire rebuilding plants Yes $75 Annual No

105.6.46 Waste handling Yes $75 Annual No

105.6.47 Wood products Yes $50 Annual No

506.1 Key boxes No No No

901.7 Fire watch Yes No Event Note 7

Day care, foster, group home inspections No $20 Event No

Certificate of fire code compliance No $20 Yes

3.    FIRE CODE CONSTRUCTION PERMITS:

Section

Description

Review Required

Permit Fee

Inspection Fee

On-line Applications

105.7.1 Automatic fire extinguishing systems Yes Yes

- less than 50 heads Yes $130 Yes

- 51 to 100 heads Yes $155 Yes

- 101 to 200 heads Yes $180 Yes

- 201 to 300 heads Yes $225 Yes

- over 300 heads Yes $300 Yes

105.7.2 Compressed gases Yes $75 Yes

105.7.3 Fire alarm and detection systems and related equipment Yes

- review for less than 30 heads Yes $65 Yes

- review for 31 - 60 heads Yes $95 Yes

- review for 61 - 90 heads Yes $125 Yes

- review for 91+ heads Yes $155 Yes

105.7.4 Fire pumps and related equipment Yes $55 Yes

105.7.5 Flammable and combustible liquids Yes Yes

- Install, construct or alter tank or equipment (per tank) Yes $115 Yes

- Install, alter, remove, abandon, place temporary out of service or otherwise dispose of a tank (per tank) Yes $115 Yes

- Construct a use/dispensing and mixing room, liquid storage room, or liquid storage warehouse Yes $155 Yes

105.7.6 Hazardous materials Yes $115 Yes

105.7.7 Industrial ovens Yes $95 Yes

105.7.8 LP-gas Yes

- permanent tank installation (per tank) Yes $70 Yes

- temporary tank installation (per tank) Yes $45 Yes

105.7.9 Private fire hydrants Yes $45 Yes

105.7.10 Spraying or dipping Yes $105 Yes

105.7.11 Standpipe systems Yes $100 Yes

105.7.12 Temporary membrane structures, tents, canopies (except recreational camping, funeral tents) Yes $50 Yes

Note 1:    105.6.35 Places of assembly:

Less than 100 occupants $10.00

Each additional 100 occupants $20.00

Maximum fee $200.00

105.6.2 Special amusement buildings: Any temporary, permanent or mobile building that provides a walkway around or over a course in any direction as a form of amusement arranged so that the egress path is not readily apparent due to visual or audio distractions or a confounded egress path.

Note 3:    105.6.17 Flammable/combustible liquids in stationary tanks

                                    PERMIT AMOUNTS FOR FLAMMABLE/COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS:

Type of liquids
Inside building
(gallons) Outside building
(gallons) Fee

Temporary (less than 30 days) More than 5 More than 10 $35

Class I More than 5 More than 10 $35

Store or use, Class II and Class IIIA $65

Operate tank vehicles, equipment, plants, terminals $65

Use or store aboveground or underground, tanks/sysems $55

Manufacture, process, blend, or refine $80

Liquid storage room (per room) $65

Liquid storage warehouse $80

Use, dispense and mix room (per room) $65

105.7.5 CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR FLAMMABLE/COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS:

Type
Fee

Install, construct or alter tank or equipment Per tank $115

Install, alter, remove, abandon, place temporarily out of service or otherwise dispose of a tank Per tank $115

Construct a Use/Dispensing and Mixing Room, Liquid Storage Room, or Liquid Storage Warehouse Per room $155

Note 4:    105.6.28 Liquified petroleum gases (LPG).

Per storage tank $50.00

Cylinder resale $50.00

Note 5:    Witnessing test and inspections.

Description Fee Inspector fee

Acceptance tests during normal working hours $200.00 None

Acceptance tests after normal working hours $200.00 $25.00 per hour or portion thereof

Inspections during normal working hours Initial inspection: None
Reinspection: $50.00
None

Inspections after normal working hours Initial inspection: $15.00
Reinspection: $50.00
$25.00 per hour or portion thereof

Note 7: Firewatch. $25.00 per hour or portion thereof per inspector.

Note 8: Fireworks. $25.00 per hour or portion thereof per inspector;
including required inspections before and after event.

Note 9:    PERMIT AMOUNTS FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:

Type of material

Amount

Combustible liquids See section 105.6.17

Corrosive materials
- Gases
- Liquids
- Solids
See section 105.6.9
55 gallons
1000 pounds

Explosives See section 105.6.15

Flammable materials
- Gases
- Liquids
- Solids
See section 105.6.9
See section 105.6.17
100 pounds

Highly toxic materials
- Gases
- Liquids
- Solids
See section 105.6.9
Any amount
Any amount

Oxidizing materials
- Gases
- Liquids
    - Class 4
    - Class 3
    - Class 2
    - Class 1
- Solids
    - Class 4
    - Class 3
    - Class 2
    - Class 1
See section 105.6.9

Any amount
1 gallon
10 gallons
55 gallons

Any amount
10 pounds
100 pounds
500 pounds

Organic materials
- Liquids
    - Class I
    - Class II
    - Class III
    - Class IV
    - Class V
- Solids
    - Class I
    - Class II
    - Class III
    - Class IV
    - Class V

Any amount
Any amount
1 gallon
2 gallons
No permit required

Any amount
Any amount
10 pounds
20 pounds
No permit required

Pyrophoric materials
- Gases
- Liquids
- Solids
See section 105.6.9
Any amount
Any amount

Toxic materials
- Gases
- Liquids
- Solids
See section 105.6.9
10 gallons
100 pounds

Unstable (reactive) materials
- Liquids
    - Class 4
    - Class 3
    - Class 2
    - Class 1
- Solids
    - Class 4
    - Class 3
    - Class 2
    - Class 1

Any amount
Any amount
5 gallons
10 gallons

Any amount
Any amount
50 pounds
100 pounds

Water-reactive materials
- Liquids
    - Class 3
    - Class 2
    - Class 1
- Solids
    - Class 3
    - Class 2
    - Class 1

Any amount
5 gallons
55 gallons

Any amount
50 pounds
500 pounds

Note 10:    PERMIT AMOUNTS FOR COMPRESSED GASES:

Type of gas
Amount (cubic feet at NTP)

Corrosive
200

Flammable (except cryogenic fluids and LPG)
200

Highly toxic or toxic
Any amount

Inert and simple asphyxiant
6,000

Oxidizing
504

Note 11:    PERMIT AMOUNTS FOR CRYOGENIC FLUIDS:

Type of cryogenic fluid
Inside building
(gallons) Outside building
(gallons)

Flammable More than 1 60

Inert 60 500

Oxidizing (includes oxygen) 10 50

Physical or health hazard not indicated above Any amount Any amount

Note 12: PERMIT AMOUNTS FOR EXPLOSIVES:

Type of explosives
Inside building
(gallons)

Store, handle, use $200

Use of explosives $200

Transport explosives $100

Store/sale ammunition $65

Black powder, store/sale $65

4. SITE ASSESSMENT FEES:

Fee assessed for a review of property records of tanks, ground contamination, or hazardous materials spills at a particular site or property. A fee of $25 per site or property reviewed.

5. FALSE AND NUISANCE FIRE ALARMS:

Definitions:

False Alarm: The activation of any fire alarm system which results in a response by the fire department and which is caused by the negligence or intentional misuse of the fire alarm system by the alarm user, owner, its employees, agents or any other activation of a fire alarm system not caused by heat, smoke or fire, exclusive of a nuisance fire alarm.

Fire Alarm System: A system or portion of a combination system consisting of components and circuits arranged to monitor and/or exterior annunciate the status of a fire alarm or supervisory signal-initiating devices and to initiate the appropriate response to those signals.

Nuisance Fire Alarm: The activation of any fire alarm system, which results in a response by the fire department, caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, lack of proper maintenance or any other response for which the fire department personnel are unable to determine the apparent cause of the alarm activation.

Owner: Any person who owns the premises in which a fire alarm system is installed
or the person or persons who lease, operate, occupy or manage the premises. The owner shall be responsible for the activation of a fire alarm system.

False fire alarms that qualify under this section include:

Alarm caused by improper installation or maintenance of the fire alarm system. This includes missing backup batteries, loose connections, smoke detectors mounted near air vents or otherwise overly sensitive detection devices.

Alarm caused by alarm user or alarm company working on the system or testing the system without notifying the alarm company or fire dispatch.

False alarm activated by owner or an employee.

Occupant conducting a fire drill without notifying the alarm company or fire dispatch.

Alarm caused by an employee of the business or family member of a residence smoking near a detector.

Alarm caused by normal cooking where the owner could relocate a smoke detector or provide better ventilation.

Alarm caused by dust from building or site construction or demolition.

Burglar alarm reported as a fire alarm by an alarm company.

Alarm for which there is no explanation. If a cause for the alarm cannot be identified - no pull station activated, smoke was not present, etc. - the alarm system will be assumed to have malfunctioned and the fee assessment applies. A response to the activation of a fire alarm system shall result when any officer or member of the Fire Department is dispatched to the premises where the fire alarm system has been
activated.

Nuisance Fire Alarms. In the event the activation of a fire alarm system is deemed by a fire official to be a nuisance fire alarm, the owner shall be notified in writing. This notification shall require the owner to return a completed Report of Service/Repair within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the fire alarm activation report to verify, to the reasonable satisfaction of the fire official, that:

The fire alarm system has actually been examined by a qualified fire alarm technician; and

A bona fide attempt has been made to identify and correct any defect of design, installation or operation of the fire alarm system which was identifiable as the cause of the nuisance fire alarm.

Failure to return a Report of Service/Repair within said fifteen (15) day period, which is reasonably satisfactory to the fire official, shall result in assessment against the owner of a fee for the nuisance fire alarm.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any newly installed fire alarm system for a period of forty-five days (45) from the date of installation, but shall apply from and after the expiration of the initial forty-five day (45) period following installation.

False Fire Alarms. No fee shall be assessed for the first three (3) false fire alarms at the same premises responded to by the Fire Department during each calendar year. Thereafter, the owner shall pay a fee for false fire alarms responded to by the Fire Department at the same premises during each calendar year, except when the fire alarm business is responsible for the false fire alarm. If the fire official determines that a false fire alarm was directly caused by an onsite employee or representative of the fire alarm business, the fire alarm business shall be assessed the fee and the incident shall not be counted against the owner. False fire alarms activated by any components connected to the fire alarm system shall be included in computing the total number of false fire alarms for purposes of this subsection. The activation of a fire alarm system will not be considered a false fire alarm if the alarm is activated due to malicious causes beyond the control of the owner.

The fees for false and nuisance fire alarms may be assessed as follows:

Descripton Fee

Failure to return a Report of Service/Repair $500

False alarm caused by on-site alarm company employee $500

Service fee - 1st false alarm $0

Service fee - 2nd false alarm $0

Service fee - 3rd false alarm $0

Service fee - 4th false alarm $50

Service fee - 5th false alarm $100

Service fee - 6th and above false alarm $200

Service fee - 1st nuisance fire alarm $0

Service fee - 2nd nuisance fire alarm $0

Service fee - 3rd nuisance fire alarm $0

Service fee - 4th nuisance fire alarm $25

Service fee - 5th nuisance fire alarm $50

Service fee - 6th nuisance fire alarm $100

Late fee $25

If fee not paid within 30 days, fee increases to $300 per occurrence.

6. FIRE ALARM MONITORING FEES:

A fee for the supervisory monitoring of a fire alarm system by the Fire Department shall be assessed at an annual rate of $250 per municipal fire alarm panel position.

7. MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION OR INCIDENT FEES:

The Fire Department shall initiate a user fee for the delivery of Fire Department services, personnel, supplies, and equipment to the scene of a motor vehicle collision or crash (MVA), including, but not limited to, securing the scene of the accident, establishment of a safety zone, extrication of victims trapped, providing any fire/medical services, and the extinguishment of vehicle fires, as necessary. The rate of the user fee shall include the actual costs incurred by the Fire Department.

The user fee shall only be billed to the motor vehicle insurance carrier of a non-resident(s) responsible for the incident, representing an add-on-cost of the claim for damages. The City will accept the amount received from the insurance company as full payment and will not invoice any resident directly.

8. EMS TRANSPORT FEES:

Charges for Emergency Ambulance Transport. A fee shall be charged to recipients of emergency medical services (ambulance) transportation performed by Fire Department, from the emergency site to the nearest appropriate hospital and/or medical facility. For all City residents, invoicing will be in the form of a request of an assignment of insurance company proceeds available to the resident, and the City will accept as full payment the usual and customary rates as allowed by the particular insurance company. The City will not charge or collect any amount of money in excess of the insurance payments received and available to any resident who receives fire department services for the reason that operating revenues received from local taxes, of all kinds, are being treated as payment of otherwise applicable co-payments and deductibles.

Nonresidents will be invoiced for the entire cost of the rescue squad services after being credited for any available assignment of insurance company proceeds.

Fees shall be assessed on the following basis:

Level of Service Fee

Basic life support transport $250

Advanced life support transport $400

Where to Call For More Information:

Building inspections and permits
774-3428

Property maintenance and enforcement
775-1531

Fire inspections, permits and code enforcement
774-3211

Planning and zoning
775-7250