FAQs
Will these new fees apply to all fire districts in the County?
No, these fees only apply to properties within the San Diego County Fire Protection District and the Deer Springs Fire Protection District.
The San Diego County Fire Protection District includes the communities of Borrego Springs, Boulevard, Campo, Deerhorn Valley, De Luz, Descanso, Dulzura, Harbison Canyon, Intermountain, Jacumba, Jamul, Lake Moreno, Mount Laguna, Ocotillo Wells, Otay Mesa, Palomar Mountain, Pine Valley, Potrero, Ramona, Ranchita, San Pasqual, Shelter Valley, Sunshine Summit, and Warner Springs.
The fees will not apply to the following fire districts: Alpine, Bonita-Sunnyside, Lakeside, North County, Rancho Sata Fe, Rincon Del Diablo, San Miguel, San Marcos, Vista, and Valley Center.
How much are the new inspection fees?
The proposed fee for initial inspection and reinspection is $181 per hour, and will be charged by the amount of time an inspectors spends on an inspection. The fee will be pro-rated to the tenth of an hour. The inspection of a small space will cost less than the inspection of a large warehouse. The fees include travel time, paperwork, and the on-site visit. When possible, inspections will be grouped in the same region to reduce costs.
Why are the fire fees changing?
County Fire follows the Board of Supervisor Policy of being cost recovery and as labor costs increase is it necessary to increase these fees.
When was the last fee increase?
The fees have not been updated since FY 2020/2021. The increases are necessary to maintain the current level of service for the community.
How are the fees calculated?
All the fees are hourly rates and will be pro-rated down to the tenth of an hour by the reviewer or inspector.
Who should I contact with questions about fire code compliance?
If you are within San Diego County or Deer Springs Fire Protection Districts, the contact is David Sibbet, David.Sibbet@sdcounty.ca.gov. If your property is outside these Fire Districts these fees are not applicable.
When will businesses be charged for inspections?
They will be billed within 60 days after the annual inspection is completed.
What happens if a business fails an inspection?
The inspector will work closely with the businesses in order to correct any violations until they pass the inspection. Our inspectors will write clear write corrections and offer assistance to the businesses to try and correct any violations immediately.