Fire Marshal

map icon
935 Main Street
Watertown, CT 06795
phone icon
Ph: 860.945.5220
Fax: 860.945.5223
clock icon
Monday - Friday
8:00am-5:00pm

Inspections, Permits and Plan Review

Inspections

Our office is responsible for inspecting all buildings within the Town of Watertown/Oakville as outlined by the CT State Fire Safety Code and the CT Fire Prevention Code, (with the exception of one and two-family residential buildings.) The frequency of inspections varies by the type of occupancy and ranges from annual (Residential, Assembly, etc.) to every 4 years. Occupancies may be inspected more frequently at our discretion. Buildings under construction may be inspected at any time throughout the construction process.

What do we look for?

Items we look for during inspections include but are not limited to: adequate number of exits; adequate exiting capacity; blocked/locked exits/egress; correct aisle widths; up-to-date service records for fire alarm systems, fire protection systems, and fire extinguishers; proper number of smoke alarms and proper smoke alarm placement; working smoke alarms, emergency lights and illuminated exit signs, safe storage areas; proper sprinkler head care, proper use of extension cords, adequate clearance around boilers, furnaces, and water heaters; acceptable interior finishes and decorations; acceptable secondary means of escape from bedrooms; and many other items.

Our authority and responsibility to conduct building inspections is derived from Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 541, Section 29-305, which states:

Sec. 29-305. (Formerly Sec. 29-52). Inspections by local fire marshals. Reports. Schedule of inspections.

(a) Each local fire marshal and the State Fire Marshal, for the purpose of satisfying themselves that all pertinent statutes and regulations are complied with, may inspect in the interests of public safety all buildings, facilities, processes, equipment, systems, and other areas regulated by the Fire Safety Code and the State Fire Prevention Code within their respective jurisdictions.
(b) Each local fire marshal shall inspect or cause to be inspected, at least once each calendar year or as often as prescribed by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, in the interests of public safety, all buildings and facilities of public service and all occupancies regulated by the Fire Safety Code within the local fire marshal's jurisdiction, except residential buildings designed to be occupied by one or two families which shall be inspected, upon complaint or request of an owner or occupant, only for the purpose of determining whether the requirements specified in said codes relative to smoke detection and warning equipment have been satisfied.

As well as one named Permits and Plan Review

Permits and Plan Review