Fire Safety Inspections

The Fire Marshal's Office is responsible for coordinating and conducting fire and life-safety inspection services for the City of Hayward in accordance with State Fire Code. There are a number of occupancies within the City of Hayward that receive regular fire and life-safety inspections.

Annual Inspections

General occupancies, such as industrial buildings, business offices, and retail spaces receive an annual inspection of common fire and life-safety hazards. The purpose of the Annual Fire Department permit is to ensure the conditions in those properties are in compliance with City Ordinance and State Fire Code.

Additionally, but not limited to, the Fire Marshal's Office conducts life-safety inspections for day cares, schools, health care and institutional occupancies. Apartment buildings are also a part of our annual inspections, focusing on the public safety of their tenants. In an effort to provide information to keep your occupancy safe we have provided an Apartment Building Fire Safety Checklist.

New Construction, Remodel, and/or Building Permit Inspections

New construction (technical) inspections are provided for all structures built within the City of Hayward. These inspections must be ‘passed’ prior to occupancy, and range from a visual check of sprinkler and alarm systems to an observed discharge of a special extinguishing system.

KNOX Rapid Keyless Entry

Key Boxes, Key Switches and Padlocks

Section 506 of the California Fire Code (Key Boxes) states: When access to or within a structure or an area is unduly difficult because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life-saving or firefighting purposes, the local Fire Department is authorized to require a key box to be installed in an accessible location. The key box shall be of an approved type and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the local Fire Department.

This code section is necessary to reduce, if not eliminate, the use of forced entry damage and to provide Fire Department personnel around the clock access in the event of an emergency.

The Hayward Fire Department has approved the use of KNOX products for Fire Department access.

To order your KNOX product, go online to www.knoxbox.com. For step by step information on how to order, please see the attached form.

Rapid Entry Knox Online Ordering.pdf