Arizona fire code

Which code applies to your building?

The International Fire Code offers a ready-made set of fire safety rules that Arizona adopts, and some local fire authorities add their own changes. Across Arizona, enforcement of the state code falls to the state fire marshal. There is one exception: a city with a population of 100,000 or more may take over enforcement once it has taken on a nationally recognized fire code and enacted an ordinance to do so, according to state law.

Buildings owned by the state or a county still follow the state fire code, even inside a large city. Smaller local fire authorities may adopt their own amended code too. Not sure which rules cover your building? If you're in Phoenix, call Fire Prevention before you start, because your plans need approval before any permit is issued.

The Arizona State Fire Marshal's role

The State Fire Marshal's office is part of the State Forester's agency. State law sets up the office to protect people and property from fire hazards.

Its work covers inspections, investigating fires, educating the public, and putting fire protection codes in place. The office puts the state fire code into effect through rulemaking, with advice from a 9 member state fire safety committee.

Buildings that need state plan review

New construction, remodels, alterations, and additions all require submitting plans to the state for:

• State and county facilities
• Public school campuses
• Charter school campuses
• Private school campuses

On top of that, the state examines building work in places that have no locally adopted fire code. That covers all building types other than homes under 5 units. Reviews rely on the 2024 International Fire Code plus related NFPA standards.

When the project involves a state, county, or public school building, officials get 60 days to act on a one-phase permit application. The same 60-day window applies when a city or town reviews plans for municipal or private buildings.

Phoenix fire code and permits

Phoenix enforces its own Phoenix Fire Code through Fire Prevention, part of the Fire Department's Community Risk Reduction Division. The work spans enforcing the code, inspecting new businesses, routine fire inspections, handling operating and special use permits, and following up on complaints. Updated hourly rates and annual hazardous materials assessment fees begin January 20, 2026.

If you need a permit for a state licensed facility, a school, or blasting or pyrotechnics, you'll handle it online only through Shape PHX. You can use it to submit an application, track plan review, upload documents, schedule inspections, and pay fees. When you renew, you keep the same Annual Operating Permit number, and the year gets appended to it.

Site plans and fire protection system plans have to be turned in on paper, drawn to scale, two sets each.

The fire code official must approve each set before the permit can be issued. Should you disagree with a decision, Phoenix gives you an appeal path to the Fire Marshal.

Crowd managers for Phoenix gatherings

A crowd manager is someone trained to help keep a crowd safe. Phoenix mandates them for indoor assembly venues that hold more than 500 people and for outdoor gatherings of 1,000 or more. You need one crowd manager for every 250 people your space is approved to hold. That count comes from the space's official capacity, not from how many guests you expect.

Phoenix also mandates carbon monoxide detectors in homes that use fuel burning appliances or have attached garages; sky lanterns are banned within the city.

Annual inspections and repairs in Phoenix

Phoenix requires annual outside inspections for many fire and life safety systems. Since December 1, 2019, the filings have gone through an online tool called The Compliance Engine, and a fire inspection staff member checks each one there.

In Phoenix, you need a repair permit, called an FITM permit, to fix or change a fire safety system that is deficient or does not meet code. It's on you, as the responsible party, to make sure your repair contractor knows this permit is required. If your inspection report shows a failure, tell your contractor you need an FITM permit, and email PFD.ITM@Phoenix.gov with questions.

Fire watch while your system is down

A fire watch is someone stationed to watch a building when its fire protection system is temporarily out of service or absent. State law says this person needs a way to reach the local fire department, with patrolling as their sole duty. While they're on watch, no other tasks can be assigned.

Rules around Prescott

In the Prescott area, the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority enforces the 2018 International Fire Code, as amended locally. Administering and enforcing that code falls to its Fire Marshal.

• Plans: 4 sets go to the Fire Prevention office
• Permit or affidavit: needed whenever a fire protection system is installed or changed
• Inspection notice: 24 hours
• Permit validity: 180 days
• Access roads: 20 feet wide or more
• Key box: required where fire protection systems are present; homes are exempt

On a construction site in the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority's area, any mobile office must carry a fire extinguisher rated 2-A:10-B:C or higher.

Fireworks sales in Arizona

Selling permissible consumer fireworks means following the state fire marshal's storage and retail sales rules. Under state law, the fire marshal must put the NFPA fireworks code into effect, NFPA 1124, 2013 edition, and the rule doing so became effective on June 7, 2015. The Attorney General concluded the rule still carries legal force, even though NFPA later withdrew that code.