How To Apply For A New Fire Operating Permit

Follow this guide to navigate the online portal and successfully submit your request for a new fire operating permit. It simplifies the complex application process by walking you through each form, required field, and document upload step.

Google Chrome

City of Rochester Citizen Access login page with sections for existing users to sign in and new users to register

Navigate to the Fire Permits Tab, review and accept the General Disclaimer terms and click "Continue Application."

"A screenshot of an online permit application page. The 'Fire Permits' tab is highlighted in the navigation bar, and the 'Continue Application' button is boxed at the bottom, indicating the steps to proceed."

Expand the Operational Permits category.

Screenshot of the City of Rochester permit portal. The 'Fire Permits' tab is selected, and orange circles highlight the selection of 'Operational Permits' and the 'Continue Application' button.

Select 'New Operating Permit' from the available record types and click "Continue Application".

A screenshot of the City of Rochester Citizen Access portal with the Fire Permits tab selected. An orange circle highlights the 'New Operating Permit' radio button, and an orange box highlights the 'Continue Application' button at the bottom.

Answer questions accordingly and click "Continue Application".

Screenshot of Step 1 in a Fire Operating Permit application. The 'Yes' radio button is circled in orange to answer if directed by the Fire Marshal to apply for a new permit. An orange box highlights the 'Continue Application' button at the bottom right.

You can either search for an address (enter Street number and City then click search for best results) OR enter your address in its entirety and "Continue Application" without searching.

A screenshot of 'Step 2: Business Location > Business Address' of a New Operating Permit web application. The page includes several address input fields such as Street Number, Street Name, City, and Zip. Important fields like Street No. and City are circled in orange to highlight them. At the bottom, a 'Search' button is circled in orange, as is the 'Continue Application' button in the bottom right corner. Instructions at the top advise users to contact the Rochester Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Division at 507-328-2056 for guidance before completing the form.

Once you search for the address, browse the results and click the radio button to select the correct address record.

A modal window titled 'Address Search Result List' on a web application. It displays a table with several columns: Address, City, State, and Zip. Multiple rows of addresses in Rochester, MN are listed with radio buttons for selection. One specific address, '201 SE 4 ST, A, CRO City of Rochester, ROCHESTER MN 55904', is highlighted in grey, and its corresponding radio button is circled in orange. At the bottom, there are 'Select' and 'Cancel' buttons, along with pagination controls showing page 2 is active.

Once the address has been selected, the applicable associated parcels and owner information will appear. Click "select".

Click "Continue Application »"

A screenshot of the 'Step 2: Business Location > Business Address' page for a New Operating Permit. The address fields—Street No., Street Name, Street Type, Direction, City, State, and Zip—are now populated with '201 4 ST SE, ROCHESTER, MN, 55904'. The 'Inspection District' field is also filled with 'City of Rochester'. At the bottom, a 'Continue Application' button is outlined with an orange box, indicating it is the next step to proceed to 'Step 3: Contact Information'.

Select the applicant's contact information from your account profile.

A screenshot of 'Step 3: Contact Information > Applicant Information' in a New Operating Permit web application. A progress bar shows the user has moved past 'Fire Marshal Confirmation' and 'Business Location.' Under the 'Applicant' heading, a description explains that this person will receive email notifications. Two buttons are available: 'Select from Account' (highlighted with an orange box) and 'Add.' In the bottom right, a 'Continue Application' button is visible.

Complete all required fields (marked with an asterisk) and click "Continue".

A 'Contact Information' modal window overlaid on the permit application. The form is partially filled out for a contact named 'Monica Flom.' Fields include First Name, Last Name, Address Line 1 (201 4th Street SE), City (Rochester), State (MN), Zip (55904), and E-mail (mflom@rochestermn.gov). A dark blue 'Continue' button at the bottom left of the modal is circled in orange. Next to it is a 'Discard Changes' link.

Click "Continue Application »"

A screenshot of the 'Step 3: Contact Information' page showing a success message: 'Contact added successfully' with a green checkmark. The added contact details for Monica Flom, including email and work phone, are displayed with options to 'Edit' or 'Remove'. A progress bar at the top shows the user is at Step 3, with Step 4 'Business Information' next. At the bottom, the 'Continue Application' button is highlighted with an orange box.

Additional Contacts: We are collecting the contacts below for our records to aid in communications and any follow up required. All contacts might be the same as applicant and if that is the case, complete by selecting from account as done in previous step. If they are different, choose "Add" to complete the required contact information. When finished, click "Continue Application."

A screenshot of 'Step 3: Contact Information > Fire Annual Contacts' in the New Operating Permit application. The page lists three contact categories: Annual Renewal/Permit Contact, Business Owner, and Site Contact. Each section provides 'Select from Account' and 'Add' buttons. The 'Select from Account' buttons for all three categories are highlighted with orange boxes. At the bottom right, the 'Continue Application' button is also highlighted with an orange box.

When you have successfully entered all additional contacts, it will be indicated with the message "Contact added successfully." When done, click "Continue Application" If you find that one of the contacts was entered in error, you can update by clicking "Edit" or "Remove" below the entry.

A screenshot of the 'Step 3: Contact Information' page showing three separate contact sections: Annual Renewal/Permit Contact, Business Owner, and Site Contact. Each section displays a success message, 'Contact added successfully,' with a green checkmark. Detailed contact information for 'Monica Flom' at 'Test Business' is listed under all three categories. At the bottom, the 'Continue Application' button is highlighted with an orange box.

Step 4 of the New Application will involve - entering the Business name, answering the questions "Is the Building Sprinklered?" and "Is a fire alarm system present?" and selecting your occupancy group and occupancy type group A from the drop down menus. Your business might not use a DBA (Doing Business As). This is not a required field.

A screenshot of 'Step 4: Business Information > Business Information' in the New Operating Permit application. A progress bar at the top indicates the user is halfway through the 8-step process. Under 'Application Data,' several fields are highlighted with orange boxes: 'Business Name' (filled with 'Test Business'), 'Is the Building Sprinklered?' (Yes selected), 'Is a Fire alarm system present?' (Yes selected), 'Occupancy Group' (set to 'Group A - Assembly'), and 'Occupancy Type Group A' (a dropdown currently showing '--Select--'). A link for 'OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION LISTING' is provided for guidance.

Select all applicable occupancy categories. The Fire Marshal may assist with indicating which ones you should select if you are unsure. In this example, we will be selecting Compressed Gases and Places of Assembly. When finished, click "Continue Application".

A screenshot of a checklist in the 'New Operating Permit' application. It features a list of eighteen operational categories, each with a checkbox. Two categories, 'Compressed Gases' and 'Places of Assembly,' are pointed to with orange arrows. At the bottom, a 'Save and resume later' button is on the left, and a blue 'Continue Application' button is on the right, highlighted with an orange box.

Step 5 of the application will require you to answer three questions regarding hazardous materials, high piled storage, and explosives.

A screenshot of 'Step 5: Documents > Document Upload' in the New Operating Permit application. A horizontal progress bar shows steps 1 through 8, with '6 Review' currently active in blue. Under 'Additional Information,' three required questions are listed with radio buttons for 'Yes' and 'No': 'Do you have Hazardous Materials on site?', 'Do you have high piled combustible storage on site?', and 'Do you have explosives on site?'. All three pairs of radio buttons are enclosed in a single orange box.

Some business operations require submitted documents for review by the Fire Marshal's Office. For assistance, you can click on the ? for more information on these questions. You can also refer to the Rochester Fire Marshal's guide for document requirements. If you respond YES, a list of required documentation will appear. These will need to be uploaded to the application as indicated. There are links to Hazardous Material documents for completion if these materials are maintained in your business.

A screenshot of 'Step 5: Documents > Document Upload' in the New Operating Permit application. Below the 'Additional Information' section, an 'Attachment' section appears. It notes that the maximum file size is 500 MB and only PDF files are allowed. A table labeled with 'Name,' 'Type,' 'Size,' 'Latest Update,' and 'Action' shows 'No records found.' A blue 'Add' button, used to upload documents, is highlighted with an orange box at the bottom left. To the right, a 'Continue Application' button is visible.

Click "Add" to add the applicable files.

A 'File Upload' modal window overlaid on the 'Step 5: Document Upload' page. The modal window contains instructions stating the maximum file size allowed is 500 MB and only PDF files are allowed. At the bottom of the modal, there are buttons for 'Continue', 'Add', 'Remove All', and 'Cancel'. The 'Add' button is highlighted with an orange box. The 'Continue' and 'Remove All' buttons appear disabled.

Browse to locate the files on your computer and select them. Once located, select the file and click "Open"

A Windows file explorer 'Open' dialog box window. The file list shows various documents stored on a desktop. A PDF file named 'Hazardous Materials Plan' is selected and highlighted in light blue. In the bottom right, the 'File name' field is auto-populated with 'Hazardous Materials Plan,' and the 'Open' button is active. A file preview pane on the right side displays a security warning instead of a document preview.

Click "Continue"

A 'File Upload' modal window showing a completed upload. The file 'Hazardous Materials Plan.pdf' is listed with a blue progress bar indicating '100%'. Below the file list, the 'Continue' and 'Remove All' buttons are now active. The 'Continue' button is highlighted with an orange box. The 'Add' and 'Cancel' buttons are also visible at the bottom of the modal.

Add a "Description:" of whatever document you are uploading.

A screenshot of the 'Attachment' section in the 'Step 5: Documents' phase of a permit application. After uploading a file, a details form appears for 'Hazardous Materials Plan.pdf'. The 'Type' dropdown is set to 'Submitted Drawings.' Below it, a large, empty 'Description' text area is highlighted with an orange arrow. At the bottom, several buttons are visible: 'Save,' 'Add,' 'Remove All,' and a 'Continue Application' button in the bottom right corner.

Click "Save" before continuing application. If you fail to do so, an error message will pop up.

A screenshot of an error message in the 'Attachment' section of the permit application. A red banner with a white 'X' icon reads: 'An error has occurred. Your documents are not yet saved. To continue, you may choose to save or remove all your documents.' Below, the document 'Hazardous Materials Plan.pdf' has its 'Type' and 'Description' fields completed. A blue 'Save' button is circled in orange at the bottom, indicating the action needed to fix the error.

Click "Continue Application »"

A screenshot of the 'Custom Fields' and 'Attachment' sections in a permit application. The 'Additional Information' section shows three questions with 'Yes' and 'No' radio buttons; the first question, 'Do you have Hazardous Materials on site?', is marked 'Yes.' Below, in the 'Attachment' section, a table displays one uploaded file: 'Hazardous Materials Plan.pdf,' categorized as 'Submitted Drawings.' At the bottom, the 'Continue Application' button is circled in orange.

Check the box to agree to the certification statement and then click "Continue Application" to submit your permit application.

A screenshot of the 'Step 6: Review' phase in the permit application. The page displays summaries of 'Custom Fields' and 'Attachment' sections, each with an 'Edit' button. Below the summaries is a certification statement in a scrollable text box. A checkbox labeled 'By checking this box, I agree to the above certification' is circled in orange. At the bottom, a 'Save and resume later' button is on the left, and a blue 'Continue Application' button is on the right, highlighted with an orange box.

Successful submission will result in the message below. The application number is assigned and will also be referenced in email notifications which will give you the status of the application. The sender of these automated emails is accela_mail@rochestermn.gov.

A screenshot of the final 'Step 3: Receipt/Record issuance' page on the City of Rochester Citizen Access portal. A green banner with a checkmark icon displays a 'Thank you for your submission or payment' message, noting that for Fire Permits, the city will contact the applicant upon review. Below the message, the application address '201 SE 4 ST, ROCHESTER MN 55904' is listed, along with a unique Record Number: 'F26-0024FPA' at the bottom left.

How To Apply For A New Fire Operating Permit

Google Chrome

Navigate to the Fire Permits Tab, review and accept the General Disclaimer terms and click "Continue Application."

Expand the Operational Permits category.

Select 'New Operating Permit' from the available record types and click "Continue Application".

Answer questions accordingly and click "Continue Application".

You can either search for an address (enter Street number and City then click search for best results) OR enter your address in its entirety and "Continue Application" without searching.

Once you search for the address, browse the results and click the radio button to select the correct address record.

Once the address has been selected, the applicable associated parcels and owner information will appear. Click "select".

Click "Continue Application »"

Select the applicant's contact information from your account profile.

Complete all required fields (marked with an asterisk) and click "Continue".

Click "Continue Application »"

Step 5 of the application will require you to answer three questions regarding hazardous materials, high piled storage, and explosives.

Click "Add" to add the applicable files.

Browse to locate the files on your computer and select them. Once located, select the file and click "Open"

Click "Continue"

Add a "Description:" of whatever document you are uploading.

Click "Save" before continuing application. If you fail to do so, an error message will pop up.

Click "Continue Application »"

Check the box to agree to the certification statement and then click "Continue Application" to submit your permit application.