Fire and Life Safety
COVID-19 Update Information
Published: March 2020
As the global effect of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, the CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has closed most of the public counters statewide effective immediately. The Fire and Life Safety public counter in Sacramento will remain open for plan review plans/documents drop-off only. Our Tuesday over-the-counter services will continue. Submitters may wait in the lobby while the review is conducted, as only staff will be allowed in the office areas.
Electronic plan review services may also be submitted through GovMotus Fire to our plan review division office. All plan review submittals shall be either shipped to the plan review division for on-paper reviews, and/or submitted electronically via GOVmotus. If you have any questions, please contact Fire and Life Safety at OSFMFireLifeSafetyGOVmotus@fire.ca.gov
Take a moment to review the Information Bulletin 20-001 regarding front counter closures.
Fire and Life Safety Overview
Fire And Life Safety is the main entity within the department for the application of laws and regulations related to fire prevention, life safety, fire protection systems, building construction and protection. This is achieved through code compliance inspections and plan review of State-Owned and State-Occupied buildings and institutions, as well as detention facilities, high-rises, schools, camps, places of assembly, hospitals, care facilities for children and the aged as well as other types of occupancies under the jurisdiction of the SFM. There is a direct relationship with the California Fire Service through their requests for assistance, training and code interpretation as well as partnering in the code development process and the resolution to code related issues within the various jurisdictions..
Within the framework of the Fire And Life Safety Division is the plan review section. Plans for projects under the SFM jurisdiction statewide are submitted for review. Plans are logged in based on the receipt date. They are reviewed in the order received and returned back to the architect for correction of items identified in the review. The architect is asked to make the corrections and call for a back-check appointment. If all of the comments have been corrected, the original plans are stamped approved, and a letter of approval is given to the architect. The program attempts to maintain a 60-day turn around time for all projects. This is the time period from the receipt date, to the date the plans are sent back to the designer or architect after having been reviewed.
The following Code Directives have been developed, approved and published by the Fire and Life Safety division to promote consistent enforcement of code requirements and to provide acceptable means of achieving compliance with building regulations and standards, to our stakeholders.
The content has been rescinded
The State Fire Marshal's Plan Review Section is responsible for the review of construction plans submitted for all state occupied building projects. Plans are reviewed for compliance with the adopted State of California Building and Fire Codes, California Code of Regulation, Title 19, Title 24 and applicable nationally recognized standards. Plan review consists of the preliminary review, design development consultations, initial review, conferences, back check, over-the-counter, addendums, change orders, instructional bulletins, request for information etc.
OSFM Fire and Life Safety has begun the electronic plan review program as of March 2020. Please see the Plan Review Submittal Requirements Information link below for REQUIRED changes to the submittal drawings and process. All paper plans must still be mailed to 2251 Harvard Street Suite 130 Sacramento, CA 95815.
- Shipping Policy Effective July 1, 2020
- Memo to State Agencies - Project Elements That Can Be Started Ahead of Office of the State Fire Marshal Permitting
- Plan Review Submittal Requirement Information
- Alternate Means Form
- Sample Alternate Means Form
- Local Fire Authority
- Phased plan review guideline
Fire and life safety requirements shall be applicable to any exhibit space, booth, trailer or tent as part of a special event.
To apply for a special events permit visit the Special Events Submittal Requirements Information.
GOVmotus Fire
CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal is launching an electronic permitting, licensing, listing, and certification system, GOVmotus Fire, that will enable clients and stakeholders to more effectively and efficiently participate in the permitting and application processes. To learn more go to the Office of the State Fire Marshal GOVmotus webpage.
Fire and Life Safety stakeholders can now use to GOVmotus Fire for the following services:
- Plan Review Applications, including over the counter appointments!
- Construction Inspections
- Special Event Permits and Inspections
To register or log into GOVmotus Fire go to the GOVmotus login page.
For questions regarding GOVmotus, contact: OSFMFireLifeSafetyGOVmotus@fire.ca.gov