Fire Inspections & Permits

If a business owner needs a signature from the fire department on a licence or permit, an inspection of the business will be required. The business owner is obliged to pay for these inspections.

Business licenses & permits that require a fire inspection include Liquor, Pyrotechnics & Fireworks (Setting off or Selling), Two-Unit House & Rooming House.

Liquor Licence

Businesses applying to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for a new liquor sales licence or changes to an existing liquor licence must receive municipal clearance. Once an applicant submits a municipal clearance application to the City, staff in the Legislative Services Branch disseminate the application to numerous City departments whose input is required, including Barrie Fire. As part of the approval process, an inspection is required. Learn more about Municipal Clearance for a Liquor Sales Licence.

Pyrotechnics & Fireworks (Setting off or Selling)

Fireworks cannot be sold in the City of Barrie without an appropriate business licence to do so. The licence will require a fire department inspection. In addition to inspecting for the purpose of fire code compliance, where fireworks are being sold the fire inspector will conduct an inspection to ensure compliance with the Business Licensing By-Law. The inspection will include ensuring adequate exits, access of public to handle the fireworks and safe storage and signage of fireworks.

Two-Unit House & Rooming House Licensing

These types of buildings require either a building permit for construction, or depending on how long they’ve been used as such, may qualify for fire code retrofit. In these cases, if found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario Fire Code a person or a director of a corporation can be liable to a fine up to $50,000. The corporation can be liable to a fine of up to $100,000.

A request for a complaint inspection can be made by any member of the community that is concerned with a Fire Code concern. Requester’s information is kept strictly confidential.

Vulnerable Occupancies (Nursing homes, Retirement Homes, Group homes and Hospitals) are required to initiate routine annual inspections with the Fire Department. These routine inspections are a requirement of the Ontario Fire Code.

A request for inspection can be made by any member of the community.

An application to register/“legalize the second suite with the Zoning Department is required prior to the Fire Department’s Inspection. The Ontario Fire Code mandates that an Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) inspection be conducted. The cost of the Application Fee does not include the cost of the Fire Department Inspection fees. A full inspection of both suites is mandatory.

Contact the Children’s Aid’s Society for their fire safety requirements. A full inspection of the home is required, checking for: 

• Working smoke alarms on all levels of the home. Must be less than 10 years old. 
• Working carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level where people sleep. Alarms must be within the manufacturer timeline for effectiveness (usually 7-10 years).
• Clear exit doors to the outside.
• Temporary wiring (extension cords that are used as permanent wiring).
• Clearance of combustibles to furnaces, hot water tanks and any other fuel fire appliance of not less than 1 metre all the way around.
• Willingness to produce a written fire escape plan with exterior meeting place for the premise.
• Ability to verbalize how the monthly fire drill will be held, one drill must be during sleep/nap time.
• Flexible metal piping being used for the dryer venting.
• Ensure sump pump is not congested with storage and is able to function freely.
• Appropriate venting for gas stove.
• Propane, flammable/combustible liquids.
• General fire hazards.

Download the full checklist for adoption inspections (PDF).

Contact your daycare agency for their Fire Safety Requirements. A full inspection of the home is required, checking for: 

• Working smoke alarms on all levels of the home. Must be less than 10 years old. 
• Working carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level where people sleep. Alarms must be within the manufacturer timeline for effectiveness (usually 7-10 years).
• Clear exit doors to the outside.
• Temporary wiring (extension cords that are used as permanent wiring).
• Clearance of combustibles to furnaces, hot water tanks and any other fuel fire appliance of not less than 1 metre all the way around.
• Willingness to produce a written fire escape plan with exterior meeting place for the premise.
• Ability to verbalize how the monthly fire drill will be held, one drill must be during sleep/nap time.
• Flexible metal piping being used for the dryer venting.
• Ensure sump pump is not congested with storage and is able to function freely.
• Appropriate venting for gas stove.
• Propane, flammable/combustible liquids.
• General fire hazards.

Download the full checklist for home daycare inspections (PDF).

If a daycare exists in a basement, there must be two ways out. Windows are acceptable provided they can be opened from the inside without the use of tools. An unobstructed opening of 0.35 m square with no dimensions less than 380 mm is required. If opening into a window well, a clearance of not less than 550 mm shall be provided in front of the window.

Some daycare oversight agencies require a fire extinguisher to be in the home. If so, the extinguisher must be maintained annually and knowledge of use is required. 

Requirements of both the Fire and Building Departments will have to be met prior to receiving Occupancy, as granted by the City’s Building Inspectors. Fire safety requirements inspected by the Fire Department include but are not limited to: emergency lighting; fire extinguishers; fire alarm and sprinkler systems components/verification.

Fire Prevention Officers will enforce violations found under the Ontario Fire Code. These violations would include items such as maintenance of fire safety systems, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, blocked exits, breaches in fire separations or missing fire separations, missing or broken fire doors, severe electrical problems, improperly used or stored flammable liquids or gases, unsafe accumulation of combustible materials, failure to implement a fire safety plan, etc.

Fire Prevention Officers will issue an Inspection Report or Fire Inspection Order to bring the violation(s) into compliance with the Fire Code. A compliance date will be set based on the threat to life safety, need for construction and applicable permits, requirement of certified documents, etc.

If you have any questions relating to Fire Code compliance, please contact the Fire Prevention Division at 705-728-3199.

During the inspection, the Fire Prevention Officer will inspect both the interior and exterior of a building looking for fire safety concerns (this could include basements, roofs, storage rooms, utility rooms etc.). In addition to a visual inspection of the building, maintenance documents (as applicable) are required for review at time of inspection; please inquire at time of booking. An inspection report or order will be completed by the Fire Prevention Officer; if deficiencies are found, a re-inspection date will be scheduled.

Residential Daycare or CAS/Adoption Inspection

• Working smoke alarms on every level of the home (less than 10 years old)
• Working CO Alarms (Carbon Monoxide) outside of each sleeping area
• No propane cylinders of any size permitted inside the home, including the garage
• No extension cords being used as permanent wiring
• Dryer venting must be of rigid metal type
• Any further fire safety requirements of the associated daycare or CAS agency.
• Inspection Fee must be paid prior to the Inspection Appointment

Commercial Inspections (as applicable)

• Annual Fire Alarm Report with no deficiencies
• Annual Sprinkler Report with no deficiencies
• Report from qualified person of annual Emergency Lighting Testing with no deficiencies
• Report from qualified person of bi-annual inspection of Commercial Cooking Suppression Equipment with no deficiencies
• Proof of required bi-annual (or sooner if required) of Commercial Cooking Hood/Duct Cleaning
• Report from qualified person of annual fire extinguisher maintenance
• Records of required maintenance for the previous two years
• Updates to Fire Safety Plan
• Updated Emergency Contact Information

If a re-inspection is required, additional fees may apply.

When a violation of the Ontario Fire Code is observed by the Fire Department, it is chargeable offence at that time. It is the responsibility of the homeowner, business owner, building owner, etc. to ensure that a building is in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code at all times. Failure to do so could result in Part 1 “Tickets” or Part 3 “Charges”. Part 1 Tickets are issued for a variety of Fire Code Violations and Part 3 Charges are laid for more serious offences, violations observed at a fire, repeat offenders, when a party refuses to comply, etc. Part 3 Offences appear before the Provincial Offences Court.

If you have any questions relating to Fire Code compliance, please contact the Fire Prevention Division at 705-728-3199.

Yes. Violations of the Ontario Fire Code are chargeable offences at the time of discovery.

Yes. Landlords/owners are allowed to enter with 24 hrs notice to assess fire safety concerns. In an emergency, no notice is required.