State of Florida Fire Marshal: Code, Inspections, and Licensing

The Florida State Fire Marshal is the state’s Chief Financial Officer, who by statute heads the Division of State Fire Marshal inside the Department of Financial Services and enforces fire safety law under Chapter 633 of the Florida Statutes.¹ The office adopts the statewide fire code, inspects state buildings, investigates suspicious fires and explosions, licenses fire equipment technicians, and certifies career firefighters and firesafety inspectors. If you own property, run a business, work in the fire service, or hire someone to service a fire extinguisher, the rules this office writes and enforces reach you.

What the Office Has Authority Over

Section 633.104 gives the Chief Financial Officer the title of State Fire Marshal and broad rulemaking authority to implement Chapter 633, with the Legislature’s stated goal of minimizing loss of life and property from fire.² The statute covers fire and explosion prevention, installation and maintenance of alarm and suppression systems, licensing of fire equipment technicians, maintenance of fire cause and loss records, and arson investigation.

The office also adopts firesafety standards for educational facilities jointly with the Department of Education. In any county, municipality, or special district that does not employ its own certified firesafety inspector, the State Fire Marshal steps in and performs the local inspection duties directly.²

The Division operates through several bureaus. The Bureau of Fire Standards and Training approves firefighter training curricula and certifies training agencies, instructors, and fire service members.³ The Bureau of Fire Prevention handles plan reviews and code enforcement.

The Florida Fire Prevention Code

The Florida Fire Prevention Code is the statewide minimum fire safety standard. The State Fire Marshal adopts and updates it by rule every three years, incorporating the current editions of NFPA 1 (Fire Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) with Florida-specific amendments.⁴ The 8th Edition, which incorporates the 2023 versions of both NFPA standards, took effect on December 31, 2023.⁵

Once adopted, the code applies statewide without any need for separate local adoption. Local governments do not get to pick which parts they enforce, though the code allows local amendments for regional concerns, and the State Fire Marshal factors local interpretations and appellate decisions into each triennial update.⁴

Only the State Fire Marshal can issue binding interpretations of the code. If a property owner and a local fire official disagree about what the code requires, either party can request a formal declaratory statement from the State Fire Marshal to settle the question.²

Inspections and Plan Reviews

Every municipality, county, and special district with fire safety responsibilities has to enforce the Florida Fire Prevention Code as the minimum standard. When reviewing a building permit application, the local fire official who finds a problem must identify the specific plan features that fall short and cite the exact code sections involved.⁶

After a permit issues, the local fire authority cannot require substantive plan changes unless those changes are necessary for compliance with the Fire Prevention Code or Life Safety Code. The same specificity rule applies: the exact provision being violated has to be cited.⁶

For state-owned and state-leased buildings, the Fire Marshal’s Plans Review Section handles review directly, evaluating life safety plans, means of egress, and the adequacy of sprinklers, fire alarms, smoke detection, and evacuation systems.⁷

New buildings and existing buildings are treated differently. The current edition applies in full to any building whose permit is issued on or after the effective date. Existing buildings follow the provisions written for existing structures, and before applying a code requirement to one, the local fire official must first determine whether an actual threat to life safety or property exists. If it does, the official applies only what is practical or fashions a reasonable alternative that achieves an equivalent level of safety.⁶

Fire and Explosion Investigations

The office has significant investigative power when a fire or explosion causes property damage and there is probable cause to believe the incident resulted from carelessness or intentional conduct. Local fire officials who want the state to investigate must preserve the scene and notify the Fire Marshal within a reasonable timeframe.⁸

Investigators can take sworn testimony, summon witnesses, compel the production of records, and seize personal property to preserve evidence. Designated agents may also hold hearings, issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and examine witnesses. Refusing a subpoena lets the Fire Marshal petition a court to compel compliance, and defiance of that court order is punishable as contempt.⁸

If the investigation turns up sufficient evidence of a crime, the Fire Marshal must arrange for the person’s arrest and turn over the testimony, evidence, and witness information to the appropriate prosecuting attorney.⁸

Licensing for Fire Equipment Work

Anyone who services, repairs, recharges, tests, installs, or inspects fire extinguishers or preengineered fire suppression systems in Florida must hold a license from the Division of State Fire Marshal. Operating without one is illegal.⁹

Licenses are divided into four classes by the scope of work permitted:

Class A covers service, recharge, repair, installation, or inspection of all types of fire extinguishers, plus hydrostatic tests on all types.
Class B is the same as Class A but excludes hydrostatic testing of carbon dioxide units.
Class C covers all types of fire extinguishers except recharging and hydrostatic testing of carbon dioxide units.
Class D covers all types of preengineered fire suppression systems.

Applicants must register as a Florida corporation or comply with the fictitious name statute, pass an equipment inspection, carry liability insurance (minimums range from $100,000 for Class C to $300,000 for Class A or Class D), finish an approved training course, hold a U.S. Department of Transportation retester identification number, and pass a written exam with a score of at least 70 percent. The nonrefundable exam fee is $50 per attempt. Once licensed, every holder must complete at least 16 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period.⁹

Firefighter Certification

The Bureau of Fire Standards and Training manages all fire service certification in Florida. A certificate of compliance is required to work as a career firefighter, while certificates of competency cover specialties like fire investigator, fire service instructor, fire apparatus pump operator, and hazardous materials technician.¹⁰

To become a certified firefighter in Florida, you must:

Complete the Firefighter Minimum Standards Course at an approved training center. Part I runs a minimum of 206 hours; Part II adds 192 more.
Pass both the state written and practical examinations.
Be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
Clear a background check conducted by the Division of State Fire Marshal.
Be a non-user of tobacco products.

¹¹

The Bureau currently oversees 44 certified training center programs statewide that teach the Minimum Standards curriculum.¹⁰ Firesafety inspectors must also meet certification requirements and complete quadrennial renewal.²

Enforcement, Penalties, and Appeals

When the State Fire Marshal or a deputy identifies a violation of Chapter 633, a rule under it, or an applicable fire safety standard, the office can issue a written order directing the responsible party to cease and desist, correct the hazardous condition, bar occupancy of the building, or vacate the premises. The order must spell out the violation, the required corrective action, and the deadline for completing it.¹²

In practice, a formal Notice of Violation gives a property owner 30 days from receipt to fix the problem. Once the owner reports the corrections, the Fire Marshal schedules a re-inspection to confirm. If the violations remain uncorrected after 30 days, the office issues a Notice of Assessment of Penalties, which can include daily fines until abatement is complete.¹³

If an order is ignored, the Fire Marshal has three escalation options: seek an injunction in the circuit court of the county where the violation occurred, impose an administrative fine under Section 633.106, or revoke or suspend any license, permit, or certificate issued under Chapter 633. On top of those civil remedies, violating a Fire Marshal order is a second-degree misdemeanor.¹²

Anyone who receives an order under Section 633.228 has the right to request an administrative hearing under Chapter 120, the Florida Administrative Procedure Act. That hearing is where you can challenge the factual basis of the violation, argue that the corrective action is unreasonable, or contest the penalties.¹² The Notice of Assessment of Penalties is itself final agency action and includes a statement of your rights, the deadline, and the procedures for requesting a hearing.¹³ Miss the deadline and you can waive your right to contest, so treat any enforcement notice as time-sensitive.

Reporting a Fire Safety Hazard

If you spot a fire safety hazard at a workplace or public building, you can file a complaint with the Division of State Fire Marshal. The division accepts a complaint from anyone alleging a violation of Chapter 633 or its rules. It can be oral or written, and you can remain anonymous. You do need to identify the location and describe the specific facts that suggest a violation exists.¹⁴

Complaints can be sent by email to firefightersafety@MyFloridacfo.com or by phone at 352-369-2836. Once the Safety Section determines that a valid complaint exists, an inspection or investigation is initiated. The division encourages reporting concerns to the head of the facility first, but that step is not required before filing a formal complaint.¹⁴

1
Florida House of Representatives. 2025 Statutes 0020.121
2
Florida Senate. Chapter 633 – 2024 Florida Statutes
3
Florida’s State Fire Marshal. Bureau of Fire Standards and Training
4
Florida Senate. Chapter 633 Section 202 – 2020 Florida Statutes
5
Florida’s State Fire Marshal. Florida Fire Prevention Code
6
Florida Senate. Chapter 633 Section 208 – 2025 Florida Statutes
7
Florida’s State Fire Marshal. Plans Review
8
Florida Senate. Chapter 633 Section 112 – 2025 Florida Statutes
9
Florida Senate. Chapter 633 Section 304 – 2021 Florida Statutes
10
Florida Department of Financial Services. Bureau of Firefighter Standards and Training – About Us
11
Florida’s State Fire Marshal. Certification – Florida Firefighter
12
Florida Senate. Chapter 633 Section 228 – 2025 Florida Statutes
13
Florida’s State Fire Marshal. Bureau of Fire Standards and Training – Notice of Violation
14
Florida’s State Fire Marshal. Do You Have a Firefighter Safety Concern