Inspection Explanatory Notes
Complaint Generated Inspections
These inspections are generated as a result of complaints received from the general public, various other agencies and from firefighters. The Fire Prevention Branch cannot predict the number of complaints that will be received during the year. Re-inspection fees are charged when a property receives a second re-inspection.
Post Fire Inspections
Post Fire inspections are conducted as a result of fire occurring in a building. The inspection is conducted to ensure that fire protection and life safety equipment is functioning properly and/or that a building is safe for occupancy. These inspections are identified as a result of information received from Fire Investigations and identified fires responded to by WFPS. There are fees with post fire inspections which are often recoverable through insurance.
License Inspections
The Fire Prevention Branch is mandated to conduct inspections of Converted Residential Dwellings where the ownership has changed; these inspections are in accordance with the City of Winnipeg licensing requirements regulated by the Doing Business in Winnipeg By-law 91/2008.
Occupancy Inspections
These are inspections conducted as a result of permit and plan review for new building construction, additions and occupancy changes in existing buildings. There are no inspection fees unless a second re-inspection occurs.
Provincial Day Cares
Inspections conducted at the request of the Province for the licensing of Day Care facilities.
Provincial Residential Care
Inspections conducted at the request of the Province for the licensing of Residential Care facilities. A flat fee is charged.
Requested Inspections
These inspections are typically conducted at the request of lawyers or mortgage companies, on behalf of their clients, when a property transaction takes place. However, any property owner can request an inspection. There is an hourly fee charged for this service.
Provincially Mandated Scheduled Inspections
In 2007 the Province of Manitoba introduced a new Provincial Regulation which requires a fire safety inspection of certain occupancies at a predetermined frequency. The intent of this Regulation is to provide an increased level of safety for the general public. The new Regulation requires an annual inspection of all:
Fire Prevention Scheduled Inspections
The Fire Prevention By-law also requires scheduled occupancy inspections and some scheduled inspections are resulting from City Council decisions and may not be included in the Fire Prevention By-law.
Fireworks, Pyrotechnics and Flame Effects
A permit is required for all fireworks, pyrotechnic displays and flame effects. Permits for Consumer Fireworks displays on property citizens do not own, must be obtained at the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, Fire Prevention Branch on the second floor, 185 King Street. A permission letter is required.
Open-Air permits
The number of Burn permits issued varies from year to year. Since 2005, residential back yard burning in fire pits no longer requires a permit while all other types of burning require a permit and a permit fee.
Property File Search
At the request of a lawyer, on behalf of a client, a property file search is conducted by the City to determine if there are any outstanding violations and/or Orders from Health, Planning, Property and Development, or Fire Prevention Branch for a property. A property file search does not generate an inspection; it is merely a search of existing records. Property file searches are coordinated through Planning, Property and Development and there is also a fee associated with these.
Plan Examination
Fire Prevention provides a plan review service on behalf of Planning, Property and Development to ensure that Building Code requirements are met for water supply and firefighting access to buildings. The number of plan examinations is dependent on the volume of permits obtained. Permits for development, construction, specific events, large tents, etc., are examined by the Fire Prevention Branch Plan Examiner. Permit fees vary.
Fire Safety Plan Review
Various occupancies are required to produce and annually update a Fire Safety Plan. The Manitoba Fire Code describes buildings required to have a Fire Safety Plan as well as the content of the plan.
These inspections are generated as a result of complaints received from the general public, various other agencies and from firefighters. The Fire Prevention Branch cannot predict the number of complaints that will be received during the year. Re-inspection fees are charged when a property receives a second re-inspection.
Post Fire Inspections
Post Fire inspections are conducted as a result of fire occurring in a building. The inspection is conducted to ensure that fire protection and life safety equipment is functioning properly and/or that a building is safe for occupancy. These inspections are identified as a result of information received from Fire Investigations and identified fires responded to by WFPS. There are fees with post fire inspections which are often recoverable through insurance.
License Inspections
The Fire Prevention Branch is mandated to conduct inspections of Converted Residential Dwellings where the ownership has changed; these inspections are in accordance with the City of Winnipeg licensing requirements regulated by the Doing Business in Winnipeg By-law 91/2008.
Occupancy Inspections
These are inspections conducted as a result of permit and plan review for new building construction, additions and occupancy changes in existing buildings. There are no inspection fees unless a second re-inspection occurs.
Provincial Day Cares
Inspections conducted at the request of the Province for the licensing of Day Care facilities.
Provincial Residential Care
Inspections conducted at the request of the Province for the licensing of Residential Care facilities. A flat fee is charged.
Requested Inspections
These inspections are typically conducted at the request of lawyers or mortgage companies, on behalf of their clients, when a property transaction takes place. However, any property owner can request an inspection. There is an hourly fee charged for this service.
Provincially Mandated Scheduled Inspections
In 2007 the Province of Manitoba introduced a new Provincial Regulation which requires a fire safety inspection of certain occupancies at a predetermined frequency. The intent of this Regulation is to provide an increased level of safety for the general public. The new Regulation requires an annual inspection of all:
- Elderly Persons' Housing Units or Hostels
- Child Care Centres
- Personal Care Homes
- Residential Care Facilities
- Hospitals
- Licensed premise as defined in the Liquor Control Act
- Private and public schools including Universities and Colleges
- Recreation Centres including Arenas, Community Clubs and Curling Rinks
- Restaurants located in residential buildings
- Hotels and motels
Fire Prevention Scheduled Inspections
The Fire Prevention By-law also requires scheduled occupancy inspections and some scheduled inspections are resulting from City Council decisions and may not be included in the Fire Prevention By-law.
- Annually:
- Converted Residential Dwellings with shared facilities
- F1 High hazard industrial occupancy
- Food trucks / trailers, food carts, commissaries
- Every 30 Months:
- Converted Residential Dwellings
- Every Three Years:
- F2 Medium hazard industrial occupancies
- Every Five Years:
- F3 Low hazard industrial occupancies
Fireworks, Pyrotechnics and Flame Effects
A permit is required for all fireworks, pyrotechnic displays and flame effects. Permits for Consumer Fireworks displays on property citizens do not own, must be obtained at the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, Fire Prevention Branch on the second floor, 185 King Street. A permission letter is required.
Open-Air permits
The number of Burn permits issued varies from year to year. Since 2005, residential back yard burning in fire pits no longer requires a permit while all other types of burning require a permit and a permit fee.
Property File Search
At the request of a lawyer, on behalf of a client, a property file search is conducted by the City to determine if there are any outstanding violations and/or Orders from Health, Planning, Property and Development, or Fire Prevention Branch for a property. A property file search does not generate an inspection; it is merely a search of existing records. Property file searches are coordinated through Planning, Property and Development and there is also a fee associated with these.
Plan Examination
Fire Prevention provides a plan review service on behalf of Planning, Property and Development to ensure that Building Code requirements are met for water supply and firefighting access to buildings. The number of plan examinations is dependent on the volume of permits obtained. Permits for development, construction, specific events, large tents, etc., are examined by the Fire Prevention Branch Plan Examiner. Permit fees vary.
Fire Safety Plan Review
Various occupancies are required to produce and annually update a Fire Safety Plan. The Manitoba Fire Code describes buildings required to have a Fire Safety Plan as well as the content of the plan.
Last update:
May 29, 2017