Obtaining Fire Permits and a Fire Certificate of Occupancy

From Gwinnett County Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance, FPP-2012

Who needs a Fire Certificate of Occupancy (CO)?

All commercial businesses within Gwinnett County, including those within a city limits, must have a Fire Certificate of Occupancy (CO)  issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Businesses within the city limits of Loganville are an exception because Loganville has its own Fire Department, and issues CO’s within the city.

What is a Fire Certificate of Occupancy (CO)?

A Certificate of Occupancy, or CO, is a document issued by the Fire Marshal’s Office of Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services, indicating that plans or an application have been submitted, reviewed, and approved; appropriate permits have been issued; fire inspections have been completed; and the building or tenant space, and related area, is free of fire code deficiencies, and safe to occupy. The Certificate of Occupancy for businesses in unincorporated Gwinnett County (not within a city limits) will be issued jointly by the Fire Marshal’s Office and Planning and Development.

When are Permits and a Certificate of Occupancy Required?

Owners, tenants, their agents, or designees of all buildings, tenant spaces, and commercial sites, are required to submit plans and specifications of the project to Fire Plan Review, prior to obtaining the required fire permits.

Permits must be obtained prior to construction, demolition, change of use or occupancy classification, tenant name change, or ownership change, in buildings, tenant spaces, or commercial sites and prior to addition, removal or changes of any fire protection system(s).

A final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy, for each business establishment, must be obtained from the Fire Marshal’s Office prior to occupying any building covered by this article or conducting business.

            FPP-2012 Sec. 42-36

How to get a Permit Leading to a Certificate of Occupancy?

You may submit an application and/or plans to Gwinnett County Fire Plan Review on-line by going to https://aca-prod.accela.com/GWINNETT/Welcome.aspx.

To complete an application or submit plans in person, go to Gwinnett County Planning and Development, located at 446 West Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 (One Justice Square Building). Sign in at Suite 150, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. If your business is located within a city limit, you will only need to see a Fire Plan Reviewer. County projects will be routed appropriately. E-mail address is: Fire.PlanReview@gwinnettcounty.com or call Planning and Development at 678.518.6000, ask for Fire Plan Review.

Map and Directions

Note: Permits/CO’s are not available at Fire Headquarters, located at 408 Hurricane Shoals Road NE, Lawrenceville. 

What information will you need to provide?

The minimum information needed will include the address, parcel, building number, suite number, city, and zip code of the business, and basic tenant/owner information. The intended use of the space will need to be clearly described to enable the plan reviewer to determine the occupancy classification.

For tenant name changes and owner changes, with no construction or renovation, and no change of occupancy, plans may not be required at the discretion of Fire Plan Review.  

When the project involves construction or renovation, construction documents shall be submitted on-line or in one or more sets with each permit application. Construction documents shall be dimensioned, and drawn upon suitable material. Electronic media documents are acceptable and encouraged. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity and detail to indicate the location, nature, and extent of the work proposed and show that the work conforms to the provisions of the fire code.

Some plans will require the seal of an appropriate registered design professional, architect, or engineer in accordance with the Gwinnett County Ordinance and state law.

            FPP-2012 Sec. 42-37

How much will it cost?

The Fire Marshal’s Office and Fire Plan Review, shall collect fees as established in the “Gwinnett County Land Development and Other Services Fee Schedule”, as may be amended, for construction permits, certificates of occupancy, and other fire related permits, plan reviews, revisions, variances, certificates, and re-inspections.

Fees may be waived for projects that serve a governmental purpose in accordance with ­­the County’s Permit Fee Waiver Policy and the Gwinnett County Land Development and other Services Fee Schedule.

            FPP-2012 Sec. 42-40

How do I schedule a Fire Inspection?

Certificate of Occupancy inspections can only be scheduled if the appropriate permit has been issued by Fire Plan Review.

Electrical power to the building must be on at the time of the final Fire Inspection.

To schedule fire inspections On-line: Go To

 https://aca-prod.accela.com/GWINNETT/Welcome.aspx.

 This is the County’s Citizen’s Access to view information related to permits and to schedule inspections. For a fire Inspection related to a new CO, you will enter your permit number beginning with “BLD” or “TNC”.  

How do I contact Fire Plan Review?

For information regarding the permitting and plan review process, call 678.518.6000 or visit them online at www.gwinnettcounty.com. Once on the website, select Departments, then Planning and Development, Plan Review, and finally, Fire Plan Review.

Additional Information

Obtaining Fire Permits and a Fire Certificate of Occupancy Brochure

Gwinnett County Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance