Inspections

Routine Maintenance Fire Inspections

The Fire Prevention Division, under direction of the city's fire marshal, conducts fire and life safety inspections of occupancies, which include apartment buildings, hotels, businesses and public buildings. Our goal is to inspect every occupancy on an annual basis, with emphasis on high-hazard occupancies.

Firefighters and inspectors enforce the Bellevue City Fire Code and the International Fire Code during these inspections, working to detect fire hazards and see that they are eliminated. This should result in fewer and less destructive fires. A secondary purpose is to promote safe practices by causing an awareness of fire and its potential for occurrence. Inspectors recommend procedures that improve fire safety.

Additionally, this program familiarizes firefighters with the physical arrangement of Bellevue's buildings and the hazards therein. This knowledge will enable firefighters to respond to emergency situations more efficiently and with greater personal safety.

When an occupancy fails to meet a provision of the fire code, the owner will be notified and given reasonable time to fix the problem. A re-inspection will confirm that fire and life safety standards are met. When all normal enforcement efforts are exhausted without compliance, violations shall be pursued through legal action.

Scope of the Annual Fire and Life Safety Inspection

a. All occupancies other than one‑ and two‑family dwellings and their appurtenant structures.

b. Except on request of the rightful occupant, the following will not be routinely inspected:

• Dwelling units within apartment buildings.
• Occupied guest rooms of hotels and motels.
• Individual storage units in apartment buildings or mini‑storage type occupancies.

c. Home occupation businesses will be evaluated by the Fire Prevention Division and an inspection file established when hazards are determined not to be typical of those found in the home. When such businesses are inspected, only the area associated with the business use shall be inspected – not the residential portion of the dwelling.

Inspection Frequency

The normal inspection frequency is every other year, except multi-family buildings that are not equipped with a fire alarm system or fire sprinkler system which will be inspected annually.

The Fire Prevention Division provides permitting, plan review and inspection services to ensure that buildings and systems are constructed in accordance with the International Fire Code. Permitted activities and inspections include additions, redesigns, relocations, alterations or removal of:

• Fire alarm systems
• Fire sprinkler systems
• Fixed fire suppression systems (including hood and duct systems and FM 200 type systems)

If you have more questions or needs regarding the plan review process please contact 425-452-4122, email us, or proceed to our Plan Review page .

Special Inspections are intended to identify code violations or reveal unsafe situations which may present themselves during special events, peak occupancy times or in response to a citizen complaint. For information on how to request a Special Inspection, please email the Fire Prevention Division.