Permits, Applications & Fees

All plan submittals must be digital, including drawings for building permits, fire sprinklers, fire alarms, and all other fire-protection system permits. Paper drawings are not accepted.

Fire Protection System Permit Application Form

Submit your Fire Protection Permit Application form and attach all submittal documents, including drawings, cut sheets, etc..

Fire Alarm Permit Submittals Shall Include the Following:

• Valid LFRA contractor's license
• Completed permit application with correct address and valuation
• Digital shop drawings (minimum 1/8" scale)
• PE or NICET Level III or IV stamp on all drawings
• Full occupant notification is required.
• The exception is core and shell submittals; full notification is not required until Tenant Finish Alarm permit submittal.
• Digital material cut sheets
• Voltage drop calculations
• Battery calculations
• Symbol list
• Riser diagram
• Graphic Map
• Please Note: LFRA is not currently accepting or approving VoIP communications systems (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Fire Sprinkler Permit Submittals Shall Include the Following:

• Valid LFRA contractor's license
• State Suppression License
• Completed permit application with correct address and valuation
• Digital shop drawings (minimum 1/8" scale)
• PE or NICET Level III or IV stamp on all drawings
• Water supply information
• Digital material cut sheets
• Hydraulic calculations
• State of Colorado Registered Fire Suppression System Contractor number, issued by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
• The above list is not intended to be inclusive of all requirements for a fire-protection submittal, but rather a guide to indicate the minimum requirements.

All excavation contractors installing underground fire lines are required to have a current license with the State of Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control as a Fire Protection System contractor underground. Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) will not issue fire line installation permits nor perform inspections for unlicensed contractors.

All underground fire lines serving fire protection systems shall be installed by State of Colorado regulations 8 CCR 1507-11, NFPA 24: Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances (2025 Edition) and NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems (2025 Edition).

All installations shall be documented using the Contractor's Material and Test Certificate for Underground Piping from NFPA 24. The Underground Test Certificate must be provided to the LFRA inspector before final approval.

• Under Test Cert 12017 (PDF)
  

Inspections must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance by calling Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) at 970-962-2537. Underground fire line installation is required to be inspected and approved by an LFRA inspector certified by the State of Colorado as a Fire Inspector II.

Permit Requirements

A permit issued in advance by LFRA is required prior to the contractor starting fire line installation.

• Permit Application Form

The LFRA fee for fire line permits and inspections is $250.

Requirements for Permit Submittal Include

All plan submittals must be digital. Paper drawings are not accepted.

• Valid LFRA contractor license
• Current State of Colorado license number for Fire Protection System Contractor - Underground license, issued by the Division of Fire Prevention and Control
• Completed permit application with the correct site address
• Scaled, digital shop drawings (minimum 1/8" scale) showing water main, fire line location, linear feet, thrust blocks (if being installed) and structure being protected. NOTE: Drawings may be a part of the project's approved set of Construction Drawings or a separate drawing.
• PE or NICET Level III or IV stamp on all drawings
• Material cut sheets
• Permit Application Form

There are four methods available to submit the digital drawings, and cut sheets:

• Included with your Permit Application Form
• By Email to Eplan Fire
• Via DropBox: Send your file-sharing link via email to Eplan Fire
• In-person: Bring the digital drawings on a USB drive to the Community Safety Division at 410 E 5th Street, Loveland, CO 80537

The Following Fire Line Inspections Are Required

Inspections must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance by calling Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) at 970-962-2537.

Visual Inspection

• Prior to the line being backfilled.

Flush

• Underground piping from the municipal water supply to the system riser, including all lead-in connections to the system riser and any associated fire hydrants, shall be completely flushed before the connection is made to downstream fire protection system piping.
• The flushing operation shall continue until the water flow is verified to be clear of debris.
• A flow meter is required when performing this test to ensure the minimum rate of flow, by NFPA 24 Table 10.10.2.1.3., is met during this test.
• This flush shall be scheduled after the servicing water district's chlorine and Bac-T tests have been completed. Documentation showing these tests have been completed shall be made available to LFRA inspectors upon request.

Hydrostatic Testing

• Hydrostatic testing shall be completed by NFPA 24 Sections 10.10.2.2.1 through 10.10.2.5.2.
• Hydrostatic testing should be completed before the piping joints are covered so that any leaks can be detected.
• Thrust blocks, if utilized, should be sufficiently hardened before hydrostatic testing.
• If the joints are covered and backfilled before testing, the contractor remains responsible for locating and correcting any leakage over that allowed in the standard.
• Acceptable test results shall be determined by indication of either a pressure loss of less than 5 psi, as shown on the gauge attached to the pipe, and/or by no visible leakage, as determined by the fire inspector.
• The trench shall be backfilled between piping joints before the test, to prevent pipe movement.
• Where required for safety measures presented by the hazards of open trenches, the pipe and joints shall be permitted to be backfilled, provided the installing contractor takes the responsibility for locating and correcting leakage.

ERCES Submittal Requirements:

• Valid LFRA contractor's license
• Completed permit application with correct address and valuation
• Digital shop drawings (minimum 1/8" scale)
• Digital material cut sheets
• Completed rebroadcast agreement
• Link Budget

General Information

• Project Information: Project name, location (address), contact information
• Building Information: Type of building, size, number of floors, construction materials
• Purpose: Explanation of the document's goal and scope
• Compliance: Confirmation of compliance with relevant building codes (e.g., IFC, NFPA 1225) and local regulations
• AHJ Approval Process: Information about submission and approval procedures 

Technical Design Details

• System Architecture: Overview of the ERRCS design, including BDA (Bidirectional Amplifier) or DAS (Distributed Antenna System) if used
• RF Site Survey: Details of the initial RF survey, including methodology and coverage findings
• Predicted RF Coverage: Calculated signal levels or coverage plots within the building structure
• Frequencies and Bands: Frequencies and radio frequency bands to be utilized, including filtering information for unused frequencies
• Coverage Requirements: Description of coverage percentages (e.g., 95% in general areas, 99% in critical areas) and minimum signal strength levels (-95 dBm)
• System Performance: Expected DAQ (Delivered Audio Quality) or SINR (Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio)
• Equipment Details: List of equipment, including manufacturers, model numbers, and FCC certification
• Antenna Placement: Strategic placement details, prioritizing critical areas
• Interference Mitigation: Strategies used to prevent interference with other systems
• Integration: Details on integration with the local emergency radio network 

Installation Information

• Site Plan and Floor Plans: Detailed diagrams showing equipment locations, antenna runs, and other relevant installation details
• Raceway Routing: Plan for raceway routing and conduit/conductor sizing
• Cable Routing: Careful planning and use of low-loss coaxial cables
• Enclosures: Details of equipment enclosures (e.g., NEMA Type 4X for active components) 

Power Supply and Backup

• Primary Power: Description of the dedicated branch circuit and disconnecting means
• Standby Power: Details on the UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), including size and battery specifications
• EPO Switch: Location of the emergency power-off switch 

Testing and Commissioning

• Pre-installation Testing: Procedures for coverage and signal strength verification
• Acceptance Testing: Details of final testing procedures, including coverage validation and signal strength measurements
• Test Reports: Documentation of test results, including dates, times, and weather conditions
• Grid Testing: Details on the grid testing procedure used 

Maintenance and Operation

• Operation and Maintenance Manuals: Copies of relevant manuals
• System Software: Electronic file storage device containing system software and passwords
• Training: Information on training provided to building owners or personnel
• Customer Service and Warranty: Details on post-installation support
• Annual Testing: Schedule and details for annual inspections and performance verification
• Maintenance Records: Keeping detailed records of maintenance activities
• Performance Monitoring: Description of the monitoring system for alerts and system performance 

Supporting Documentation

• Equipment Cut Sheets: Specification sheets for all equipment and devices
• Certifications: Copies of system designer certifications and frequency use agreements
• FCC Registration: Proof of FCC registration
• As-Built Drawings: Final drawings reflecting the actual installation
• Summary Drawings: Diagrams showing equipment and antenna locations
• ERP Table: Table of effective radiated power at antenna sites 

Note: This document is intended to comply with NFPA 1225 (2022 edition) Section 18.15 and the International Fire Code (IFC, 2024 edition) Section 510. 

LFRA's Community safety division performs digital plan reviews only. This means that all plan submittals must be digital, including drawings for building permits, fire sprinklers, fire alarms, and all other fire-protection system permits. Paper drawings are not accepted.

Building permit application form

Apply for a Building permit using the Application form. All permit submittals must include drawings.

Permit plan submittals must be digital. There are four methods to submit digital drawings:

• Included with the Application form
• By emailing Eplan Fire
• Via DropBox: Send your file-sharing link via email to Eplan Fire
• In-person: Bring the digital drawings on a USB drive to the Community Safety Division at 410 E 5th Street, Loveland, CO 80537

About Building Permits

Loveland Fire Rescue Authority's Community Safety Division reviews building permit submittals for construction projects within three governmental jurisdictions:

• The City of Loveland
• Unincorporated Larimer County in the Loveland Rural Fire Protection District
• The Town of Johnstown near Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 34 (Thompson River Ranch and 2534) in the Loveland Rural Fire Protection District

If you need to obtain a building permit for property located in the Loveland Rural Fire Protection District in either unincorporated Larimer County or the Town of Johnstown, you will need a separate building permit issued by LFRA; this is in addition to and separate from the building permit issued by Johnstown or Larimer County building departments. Within the City of Loveland, the LFRA review is included in the city's Building Division permit process; a separate permit from LFRA is not required.

Consolidated Fee Schedule

• 2026 Consolidated Fee Schedule (PDF)

Fee Estimator Worksheet

View the LFRA Building and Fire Systems Permit Fee Estimator Worksheet (XLS), or call the Community Safety Division at 970-962-2537 for an estimate.

• LFRA Fees for Planning and Zoning projects within the City of Loveland - Fee Worksheet (PDF)

Please note that these are estimates only and not cost quotes, as the project valuation can change, fee schedules may change, etc. It is the responsibility of the applicant or contractor to confirm the actual permit fees with CSD if desired, before payment and issuance of the permit.

Impact Fee Schedule 2026

Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) provides structural and wildland fire protection, emergency medical services, specialized rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, community safety services, fire investigation and public education in a 248-square-mile area with a population of 110,000 residents, which includes the City of Loveland, the “2534” area of Johnstown, and surrounding unincorporated Larimer County. LFRA responds to approximately 12,000 calls per year and performs an estimated 1,000 development reviews and 1,200 construction inspections annually.

The LFRA service area is experiencing a 1.5-2% annual population growth, and the increase is projected to be about 1.7% per year through 2031. This growth has resulted in corresponding construction of residential subdivisions and commercial structures, with a 35% increase in 911 call volume since 2020 (8,600 responses in 2020, 11,600 in 2025). However, LFRA, like other fire departments throughout Colorado, has not been able to realize the full property tax revenue due to the Gallagher/TABOR legislation.

In 2016, the Colorado Legislature passed the Public Safety Fairness Act allowing fire districts to charge impact fees to assist capital development of fire and emergency medical resources to accommodate community growth. LFRA received approval from its board of directors, the Johnstown Trustees, and the Larimer County Commissioners to implement the impact fee in 2018.

Impact fee approval does not require approval from voters. Neighboring fire districts in Larimer County also have implemented impact fees.

The population of Larimer County is expected to increase from the current 365,000 to approximately 500,000 by 2050, with a significant portion of this growth occurring in the Loveland fire jurisdiction. Through extensive planning, LFRA has identified at least one new fire station will need to be constructed in the next 10 years to meet the additional demand for services. Additionally, the Loveland Fire Training Center and existing Fire Station 3 will need to be replaced, and Fire Stations 4 and 5 need to be renovated. The impact fee will help fund LFRA capital infrastructure, and purchase new apparatus and equipment associated with new development.

In 2025, a third Nexus study was prepared by BBC Research and Consulting, and the new, recommended impact fees went into effect Jan. 1, 2026. LFRA implemented “step” fees for single-family homes, as affordable and attainable housing continues to be a challenge in Colorado. The base single-family impact fee is $986, and it increases for larger homes. Impact fees are also charged for non-residential development, such as commercial, retail, office, manufacturing and warehouse facilities.

The impact fee is not charged for fire-protection systems, such as automatic fire sprinklers or fire-alarm systems.