Routine Annual Fire Inspections
The Fire Prevention Division, under direction of the fire marshal, conducts annual fire and life safety inspections of occupancies, which include apartment buildings, hotels, businesses and public buildings. Our goal is to inspect every occupancy on an annual basis, with emphasis on high-hazard occupancies. 

The Fire Prevention Division enforces NFPA Life Safety Code 101 and all State and Local Ordinance during these inspections, working to detect fire hazards and see that they are eliminated. This should result in fewer and less destructive fires. A secondary purpose is to promote fire safe practices through awareness and recommendations for procedures to improve fire safety.  

When an occupancy fails to meet a provision of the fire code, the owner will be notified and given reasonable time to fix the problem. A reinspection will confirm that fire and life safety standards are met. When all normal enforcement efforts are exhausted without compliance, violations shall be pursued through legal action. 

Scope of the Annual and Life Safety Inspection Program
   a.      All occupancies other than one‑ and two‑family dwellings and their appurtenant structures.

   b.      Except on request of the rightful occupant, the following will not be routinely inspected:

           * Dwelling units within apartment buildings.
           * Occupied guest rooms of hotels and motels.
           * Individual storage units in apartment buildings or mini‑storage type
              occupancies.

   c.      Home occupation businesses will be evaluated by the Fire Prevention Division and an inspection file
            established when hazards are determined not to be typical of those found in the home. When such
            businesses are inspected, only the area associated with the business use shall be inspected – not the
            residential portion of the dwelling.

Inspection Frequency
The basic inspection frequency should be once per year.  This frequency can be modified for those occupancies with a high life hazard or having hazardous materials or processes.     

Special Inspections
Special inspections are intended to identify code violations or reveal unsafe situations which may present themselves during special events, peak occupancy times or in response to a citizen complaint. Please proceed to the Inspection Request page for further direction on how to request this type of inspection.

Inspection Requests

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Department conducts inspections of all commercial businesses and multi-family residential for code compliance. Prevention will respond to complaints for code violations. Fire inspections are needed for new construction, all new businesses and all remodels . For a complete listing of inspections, please see the Inspection Program page.

Requests

You may want to request a fire inspection if you:

  *Want your property inspected for fire code violations.

  *Are concerned about possible code violations at a commercial or
    multifamily property.

Have concerns or questions about other Fire Code-related issues.

To request a fire inspection for any of these reasons, call (239)463-6163.