13 Va. Admin. Code § 5-52-70

Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 10, December 30, 2024

Section 13VAC5-52-70 - Section 107 Permits and fees

A. 107.1 Prior notification. The fire official may require notification prior to (i) activities involving the handling, storage, or use of substances, materials, or devices regulated by the SFPC; (ii) conducting processes that produce conditions hazardous to life or property; or (iii) establishing a place of assembly.

B. 107.2 Permits required. Operational permits may be required by the fire official as permitted under the SFPC in accordance with Table 107.2, except that the fire official shall require permits for the manufacturing, storage, handling, use, and sale of explosives. In accordance with Section 5601.2.3.1, an application for a permit to manufacture, store, handle, use, or sell explosives shall only be made by a designated individual.

Exception: Such permits shall not be required for the storage of explosives or blasting agents by the Virginia Department of State Police, provided notification to the fire official is made annually by the Chief Arson Investigator listing all storage locations.

C. Add Table 107.2 as follows:

EDITOR'S NOTE: Table 107.2 has not been amended since being published in the proposed regulation in 39:14 VA.R. 1707-1856 February 27, 2023; therefore Table 107.2 is not set out.

D. 107.3 Application for permit. Application for a permit shall be made on forms prescribed by the fire official.

E. 107.4 Issuance of permits. Before a permit is issued, the fire official shall make such inspections or tests as are necessary to ensure that the use and activities for which application is made comply with the provisions of this code.

F. 107.5 Conditions of permit. A permit shall constitute permission to store or handle materials or to conduct processes in accordance with the SFPC and shall not be construed as authority to omit or amend any of the provisions of this code. Permits shall remain in effect until revoked or for such period as specified on the permit. Permits are not transferable.

G. 107.6 Annual. The enforcing agency may issue annual permits for the manufacturing, storage, handling, use, or sales of explosives to any state regulated public utility.

H. 107.7 Approved plans. Plans approved by the fire official are approved with the intent that they comply in all respects to this code. Any omissions or errors on the plans do not relieve the applicant of complying with all applicable requirements of this code.

I. 107.8 Posting. Issued permits shall be kept on the premises designated therein at all times and shall be readily available for inspection by the fire official.

J. 107.9 Suspension of permit. A permit shall become invalid if the authorized activity is not commenced within six months after issuance of the permit or if the authorized activity is suspended or abandoned for a period of six months after the time of commencement.

K. 107.10 Local fees. In accordance with § 27-98 of the Code of Virginia, fees may be levied by the local governing body in order to defray the cost of enforcement and appeals under the SFPC. However, for the city of Chesapeake no fee charged for the inspection of any place of religious worship designated as Assembly Group A-3 shall exceed $50. For purposes of this section, "defray the cost" may include the fair and reasonable costs incurred for such enforcement during normal business hours but shall not include overtime costs, unless conducted outside of the normal working hours established by the locality. A schedule of such costs shall be adopted by the local governing body in a local ordinance. A locality shall not charge an overtime rate for inspections conducted during the normal business hours established by the locality. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit a private entity from conducting such inspections, provided the private entity has been approved to perform such inspections in accordance with the written policy of the fire official for the locality.

L. 107.11 State Fire Marshal's Office permit fees for explosives, blasting agents, theatrical flame effects, and fireworks. Complete permit applications shall be submitted to and received by the State Fire Marshal's Office not less than 15 days prior to the planned use or event. A $500 expedited handling fee will be assessed on all permit applications submitted less than 15 days prior to the planned use or event. Inspection fees will be assessed at a rate of $60 per staff member per hour during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and at a rate of $90 per hour at all other times (nights, weekends, holidays). State Fire Marshal's Office permit fees shall be as follows:

1. Storage of explosives and blasting agents, 12-month permit $250 first magazine, plus $150 per each additional magazine on the same site.

2. Use of explosives and blasting agents, nonfixed site, six-month permit $250 per site, plus inspection fees.

3. Use of explosives and blasting agents, fixed site, 12-month permit $250 per site.

4. Sale of explosives and blasting agents, 12-month permit $250 per site.

5. Manufacture explosives (unrestricted), blasting agents, and fireworks, 12-month permit $250 per site.

6. Manufacture explosives (restricted), 12-month permit $20 per site.

7. Fireworks display in or on state-owned property $300 plus inspection fees.

8. Pyrotechnics or proximate audience displays in or on state-owned property $300 plus inspection fees.

9. Flame effects in or on state-owned property $300 plus inspection fees.

10. Flame effects incidental to a permitted pyrotechnics display $150 (flame effects must be individual or group effects that are attended and manually controlled).

Exception: Permit fees shall not be required for the storage of explosives or blasting agents by state and local law-enforcement and fire agencies.

M. 107.12 State annual compliance inspection fees. Fees for compliance inspections performed by the State Fire Marshal's Office shall be as follows:

1. Nightclubs.

1.1. $350 for occupant load of 100 or less.

1.2. $450 for occupant load of 101 to 200.

1.3. $500 for occupant load of 201 to 300.

1.4. $500 plus $50 for each 100 occupants where occupant loads exceed 300.

2. Private college dormitories with or without assembly areas. If containing assembly areas, such assembly areas are not included in the computation of square footage.

2.1. $150 for 3500 square feet or less.

2.2. $200 for greater than 3500 square feet up to 7000 square feet.

2.3. $250 for greater than 7000 square feet up to 10,000 square feet.

2.4. $250 plus $50 for each additional 3000 square feet where square footage exceeds 10,000.

3. Assembly areas that are part of private college dormitories.

3.1. $50 for 10,000 square feet or less provided the assembly area is within or attached to a dormitory building.

3.2. $100 for greater than 10,000 square feet up to 25,000 square feet provided the assembly area is within or attached to a dormitory building, such as gymnasiums, auditoriums, or cafeterias.

3.3. $100 for up to 25,000 square feet provided the assembly area is in a separate or separate buildings, such as gymnasiums, auditoriums, or cafeterias.

3.4. $150 for greater than 25,000 square feet for assembly areas within or attached to a dormitory building or in a separate building, such as gymnasiums, auditoriums, or cafeterias.

4. Hospitals.

4.1. $300 for 1 to 50 beds.

4.2. $400 for 51 to 100 beds.

4.3. $500 for 101 to 150 beds.

4.4. $600 for 151 to 200 beds.

4.5. $600 plus $100 for each additional 100 beds where the number of beds exceeds 200.

5. State-regulated care facilities:

5.1 Facilities licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services based on licensed capacity as follows:

5.1.1. $50 for 1 to 8.

5.1.2. $75 for 9 to 20.

5.1.3. $100 for 21 to 50.

5.1.4. $200 for 51 to 100.

5.1.5. $300 for 101 to 150.

5.1.6. $400 for 151 to 200.

5.1.7. $500 for 201 or more.

Exception: Annual compliance inspection fees for any building or group of buildings on the same site may not exceed $2500.

5.2 Family Day Homes licensed by the Department of Education based on licensed capacity as follows:

5.2.1. $50 for 1 to 8.

5.2.2. $75 for 9 to 20.

5.2.3. $100 for 21 to 50.

5.2.4. $200 for 51 to 100.

5.2.5. $300 for 101 to 150.

5.2.6. $400 for 151 to 200.

5.2.7. $500 for 201 or more.

Exception: Annual compliance inspection fees for any building or group of buildings on the same site may not exceed $2500.

6. Registered complaints.

6.1. No charge for first visit (initial complaint), and if violations are found.

6.2. $51 per hour for each State Fire Marshal's office staff for all subsequent visits.

7. Bonfires (small and large) on state-owned property.

7.1. For a small bonfire pile with a total fuel area more than three feet in diameter and more than two feet in height, but not more than nine feet in diameter and not more than six feet in height, the permit fee is $50. If an application for a bonfire permit is received by the State Fire Marshal's Office less than 15 days prior to the planned event, the permit fee shall be $100. If an application for a bonfire permit is received by the State Fire Marshal's Office less than seven days prior to the planned event, the permit fee shall be $150.

7.2. For a large bonfire pile with a total fuel area more than nine feet in diameter and more than six feet in height, the permit fee is $150. If an application for a bonfire permit is received by the State Fire Marshal's Office less than 15 days prior to the planned event, the permit fee shall be $300. If an application for a bonfire permit is received by the State Fire Marshal's Office less than seven days prior to the planned event, the permit fee shall be $450.

N. 107.13 Fee schedule. The local governing body may establish a fee schedule. The schedule shall incorporate unit rates, which may be based on square footage, cubic footage, estimated cost of inspection, or other appropriate criteria.

O. 107.14 Payment of fees. A permit shall not be issued until the designated fees have been paid.

Exception: The fire official may authorize delayed payment of fees.

P. 107.14.1 State Fire Marshal's Office certification and permit fees not refundable. No refund of any part of the amount paid as a permit or certification fee will be made where the applicant or permit or certification holder, for any reason, discontinued an activity, changed conditions, or changed circumstances for which the permit or certification was issued. However, the permit or certification fee submitted with an application will be refunded if the permit or certification is canceled, revoked, or suspended subsequent to having been issued through administrative error or if a permit being applied for is to be obtained from a locally appointed fire official.

13 Va. Admin. Code § 5-52-70

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 40, Issue 9, eff. 1/18/2024.

Statutory Authority: § 27-97 of the Code of Virginia.