Fire Safety Bureau

Fire Safety Bureau Badge

To register your business or apply for a fire safety permit please contact our Fire Safety Inspector at 973-835-5700, ext. 194.

Alarm Compliance

If you are selling your house, you will need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate. Please contact the Fire Safety Inspector at 973-835-5700, ext. 194 in order to request an inspection.

CSDCMAC Requirements

A Certificate will not be issued until all the minimum requirements have been met after an inspection is made, and there are no open permits with the Construction Department. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors save lives. Regarding house numbers, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide, alarms, fire extinguishers:

  • Pequannock Township Ordinance 88-23: Requires that the house number be installed with a minimum of three inch high numerals, placed adjacent to the left or right side of the front door, five feet above the door saddle.  Numbers must be visible from the three and must be contrasting colors.
  • N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3: Requires that smoke detectors be installed as follows:
    • Minimum of 1 smoke detector is required on each level of the house including the basements, unless original certificate of occupancy required more.  Replacement single station battery operated smoke and carbon detectors shall be a 10 year sealed unit and UL approved.  The detector is required in the general area of the bedrooms, such as the hallway, within 10 feet of the bedrooms and preferably mounted to the ceiling.  If the detector has to be mounted to a wall, it must be mounted 4 inches minimum and 12 inches maximum from the ceiling.  Alarms must be 4 inches from any corner and a minimum of 3 feet from any air registers.  
    • Any hard-wired/interconnected smoke/carbon detectors must be functioning and under 10 years of age. Battery operated units can not be substituted in lieu of functioning wired units.
    • If you have a fire alarm that is through an alarm company, you must provide paperwork from the alarm company that it is active, compliant and in working order prior to any inspection.
  • N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3: Requires carbon monoxide alarms in all homes having a fuel burning appliance or an attached garage as follows:
    • One carbon monoxide detector is required on each level of the house that has bedrooms.  For example, if a person has 3 bedrooms on the second floor then 1 carbon monoxide detector is required in the general area of the bedrooms; in the hallway, within 10 feet of the bedrooms.  Plug-in detectors are acceptable.  It is recommended to install a detector on every level of the home, including the basement. Be sure to check the manufacturer's installation guide as well.  If you are installing combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, they must be a 10 year, sealed battery UL labeled detector.
    • Outside of each separate sleeping area within 10 feet of each bedroom
  • N.J.A.C. 5:70-603.6 All chimneys, smokestacks or similar devices for conveying smoke or hot gases to the outer air shall be properly sealed and maintained.

  • N.J.S.A. 52:27D-198.1: Requires fire extinguishers in all homes as follows:
    • A minimum of 1 fire extinguisher is required per home.  Type 2A-10BC (4 lb. bot not greater than 10 lbs) shall be mounted, per the manufacturer's recommendation and shall be in a visible location within 10 feet of the kitchen and not blocked by furniture, behind a door or in a closet.  A slightly larger 3A-10BC fire extinguisher is also acceptable.  
  • N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9: Fee for Certificate of smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance:
    • Request for Certification received more than 10 business days prior to the change of occupant: $45
    • Request for Certification received 4 to 10 business days prior to the change of occupant: $90
    • Request for Certification received fewer than 4 business days prior to the change of occupant: $165
    • If any of the above mandates fail, it will result in an additional $40 fee for each additional re-inspection

Recall

Learn about the Kidde fire alarm recall.