Santa Clara County, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Cleared by
- County Fire Marshal
- Ties into
- Final certificate of occupancy
- Notified party
- Building Inspection Office
- Adopted by
- Ordinance Code § B7-4
Summary
Unincorporated Santa Clara County withholds a building's final inspection and certificate of occupancy until the County Fire Marshal clears its fire protection facilities and access ways, under the county Fire Code.
109.5. Final inspection. No final inspection as to all or any portion of a building, structure, or development shall be deemed completed until the installation of the required fire protection facilities and access ways have been completed and approved. No final certificate of occupancy may be granted until the County Fire Marshal issues notice of final clearance of such fire protection facilities and access ways to the Building Inspection Office.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Sec. B7-4 adds Section 109.5 to the County Fire Code, making a building's final inspection incomplete until required fire protection facilities and fire apparatus access ways are installed and approved. No final certificate of occupancy can issue until the County Fire Marshal notifies the Building Inspection Office that fire clearance is complete, tying the building final and the fire final together as one inspection stage. This applies to construction in unincorporated Santa Clara County, where the County Fire Marshal has jurisdiction.
Violations & Fines
Occupying or using a building before the County Fire Marshal issues final fire clearance violates the Fire Code and can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor under Sec. 113.4, with fines up to $1,000 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a certificate of occupancy before the fire inspection?
Who issues the fire clearance notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California building safety overview
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