Short answer
A commercial building in Denver is inspected once a year, by the local fire station for most properties and by Fire Prevention inspectors for high-rise and other higher-hazard buildings, and the inspector works from a published checklist. Readiness comes down to three things: records on site, such as three years of fire alarm reports, the panel logbook, extinguisher tags and pump and standpipe test records; signs and access, such as address numerals, labeled equipment rooms and clear fire lanes and fire department connections; and systems serviced on schedule by licensed providers.
Records to have on site
Denver Fire’s inspection checklist asks to see paperwork as well as equipment. Pull these before the inspector arrives, and file them together so they can be handed over in one folder.
- The fire alarm panel logbook, the red three-ring binder the checklist describes, and the previous three years of annual fire alarm inspection reports.
- Annual sprinkler inspection reports, the current five-year standpipe flow test and, where there is a fire pump, its annual test and weekly churn test records.
- Annual inspection tags on every portable extinguisher, and hood cleaning and suppression service records for any tenant with a kitchen.
- Annual inspection records for radio enhancement systems, clean agent systems and roll-up fire doors where the building has them.
- A building site plan or wall map by the alarm annunciator or panel, with the relevant building information.
Signs and labels the checklist looks for
| Where | What the checklist asks for |
|---|---|
| Mechanical, electrical, boiler, fire pump, sprinkler, generator and fire command rooms | A sign in contrasting red and white, with 2 inch letters indoors or 4 inch letters outdoors, on durable material |
| Fire alarm system | A sign reading WHEN ALARM SOUNDS - CALL FIRE DEPARTMENT |
| Required exit doors with locks or latches | A sign on the egress side reading THIS DOOR TO REMAIN UNLOCKED WHEN BUILDING IS OCCUPIED |
| Radio repeater systems | A sign reading This Building Equipped With A Radio Repeater System |
| Street frontage | Address numerals at least 4 inches tall, visible from the street |
| Fire department connection that is not visible from the street | A sign pointing to it |
Access around the building
The exterior items on the checklist are about whether firefighters can reach the building. Fire lanes have to be open and marked, at least 20 feet wide. The fire department connection and nearby hydrants must be unobstructed, with at least 36 inches of clear space in depth and 78 inches in height, and the connection is expected to have locking Knox Box caps. Where a gate blocks fire department access, the checklist calls for an approved emergency access method, such as a Knox switch on a powered gate, and Knox Box keys for the building where required.
Inside the building
Inside, the checklist asks whether exits are unobstructed and openable from the inside, whether emergency lights and exit signs light when the test switch is pressed and run on battery or generator power, whether fire doors are blocked open, whether extinguishers are the right size and type with current tags, and whether there is 30 inches of clearance around electrical panels and 18 inches below sprinkler heads. Fire alarm and sprinkler systems are expected to be inspected annually by a contractor licensed through the Fire Prevention Division. The failed inspection guide shows who usually fixes each kind of finding.
Who inspects and what it costs
Denver Fire says commercial fire safety inspections occur once per year. Local fire stations inspect most commercial properties, billed by square footage, and Fire Prevention inspectors handle higher-hazard occupancies including high-rise buildings. Denver’s July 2026 fee schedule bills high-rise commercial buildings by stories:
| Stories | Commercial fee |
|---|---|
| 0 to 10 | $325 |
| 11 to 20 | $410 |
| 21 to 30 | $490 |
| 31 or more | $570 |
The cost guide has the square-footage table and the reinspection fees.
Getting building systems serviced
Call (970) 591-1310 with the property address, the systems you know about and the last inspection reports. Denver Fire Safety coordinates a qualified provider, who is named to you, with scope, timing and price, before you authorize work. Property managers with several buildings can see how requests stay organized on the property managers page. The guides index has the restaurant, school, apartment and warehouse versions of this checklist.
Sources and limits
Written from Denver Fire Department’s inspection checklist, inspections page and July 23, 2026 fee schedule as reviewed on October 27, 2026. The checklist is undated and covers more than most buildings need. Your inspector and the Denver Fire Code control for your property.
Denver Fire Department inspection checklist
The undated form inspectors use, listing what is checked for alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, kitchens, exits and more.
Denver Fire Department: Fire Safety Inspections
The city’s page on annual commercial inspections, inspection reports, invoices, fees and contacts.
Denver Fire Department inspection fee schedule, July 23, 2026
Annual inspection fees by building size and occupancy, and the non-compliance reinspection fees.
Denver Fire Department: Fire Safety Systems Licensing
License categories, who needs a license and how to apply.
Who publishes this guide
Denver Fire Safety is an independent commercial service coordinator for Denver-area properties. It is not affiliated with the City and County of Denver or the Denver Fire Department, and it does not hold the licenses described above. A qualified provider, named to you before you authorize work, performs and documents the regulated work. Call (970) 591-1310 to start a request. If there is an active fire, smoke or immediate danger, call 911.