Arizona · Fire code

The fire code in force in Arizona now.

State Fire Code: IFC 2024 (with listed appendices) as modified by A.A.C. R4-36 Article 3, effective Apr 13, 2026 (R4-36-201, 32 A.A.R. 558). Enforced by DFFM Office of the State Fire Marshal: statewide enforcement and plan review for state, county and public-school buildings and areas without a local fire code; cities of 100,000+ that assumed jurisdiction (and other local fire officials) enforce their own adopted codes. Checked on the primary source; the state record was last reviewed 2026-11-12.

Explore Arizona by location and topic

Fire code in Arizona

Checked on the source
In force

State Fire Code: IFC 2024 (with listed appendices) as modified by A.A.C. R4-36 Article 3, effective Apr 13, 2026 (R4-36-201, 32 A.A.R. 558)

Statewide minimum fire code adopted by the state forester through the State Fire Marshal (A.R.S. 37-1383); replaced IFC 2018. Cities of 100,000+ with their own code may assume enforcement by ordinance; local codes must be equal or stricter.

Source: primary document

Who enforces it

DFFM Office of the State Fire Marshal: statewide enforcement and plan review for state, county and public-school buildings and areas without a local fire code; cities of 100,000+ that assumed jurisdiction (and other local fire officials) enforce their own adopted codes

Statewide layer. County and city amendments sit on top; confirm the local office for the address.

What changes next

IFC 2024 since Apr 13, 2026

In force; 4 A.A.C. 36 (Supp. 26-1) read Oct 20, 2026: R4-36-201 adopts IFC 2024 with listed appendices, effective Apr 13, 2026 (32 A.A.R. 558). CONFLICT: DFFM State Statute and Fire Code page (read Oct 21, 2026) still says the office works under the 2012 IFC; the AHJ confirms which edition applies

The federal layer

No federal fire code applies to a private building; OSHA's exit-route, fire-extinguisher and emergency-plan rules (29 CFR 1910 Subparts E and L) apply to every employer alongside the state fire code.

Dated items

Next 24 months
Jan 11, 2027
58th Legislature, 1st Regular Session convenes (second Monday in January) - watch fire-code, building-code, elevator, pool and lodging billsArizona Legislature
Confirmed date

What a building has to do

25 recurring duties

These apply when the building has the equipment or fits the type named. The frequency is the standard one; your local official can set a stricter one, so confirm it for the address.

Annual
Fire alarm system: annual inspection and testNFPA 72, Ch. 14 · Licensed alarm contractor; report to the fire marshal on request · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Sprinkler control valves: inspected monthly when locked or electrically supervised (weekly when only sealed); open, accessible, tamper switch workingNFPA 25, Ch. 13 · Owner or contractor; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Quarterly
Sprinkler system: quarterly inspection (gauges, waterflow and supervisory alarm devices, fire department connection)NFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13 · Owner or contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year
Waterflow switches (vane or pressure type) and valve tamper switches: semiannual test, signal confirmed at the panel and the monitoring company (mechanical water motor gongs: quarterly)NFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13; NFPA 72, Ch. 14 · Licensed sprinkler or alarm contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Sprinkler system: annual inspection and main drain testNFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13 · Licensed sprinkler contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 5 years
Sprinkler piping: internal inspection and obstruction checkNFPA 25, Ch. 14 · Licensed sprinkler contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Weekly or Monthly
Fire pump: no-flow (churn) test. Diesel: weekly, 30 minutes. Electric: monthly, 10 minutes, but weekly when the pump serves a building beyond the fire department’s pumping capacity, has a limited-service controller, is a vertical turbine, or draws from a ground-level tankNFPA 25, Ch. 8 · Owner or contractor; readings logged · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire pump: annual flow testNFPA 25, Ch. 8 · Licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Standpipes: annual inspection of hose connections, valves, caps and gaskets, piping and signageNFPA 25, Ch. 6 · Owner or licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 5 years
Standpipes: five-year flow test (manual and dry systems also get a five-year hydrostatic test)NFPA 25, Ch. 6 · Licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly or Quarterly or Twice a year or Annual
Kitchen exhaust (hood, duct, fan): inspected for grease buildup and cleaned when buildup is found. Interval by cooking volume: solid fuel monthly; high volume (24-hour, charbroiling, wok) quarterly; moderate semiannually; low annuallyNFPA 96, Table 12.4 (11.4 in older editions) · Qualified exhaust cleaning company · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year
Kitchen hood fire-suppression system: inspection and service every six months, tag datedNFPA 17A; NFPA 96, Ch. 11 · Licensed suppression contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Weekly
Generator: weekly inspection (fuel, oil and coolant levels, battery and charger, block heater, alarms, transfer switch in automatic)NFPA 110, Ch. 8 · Owner; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Generator: monthly exercise under load for at least 30 minutes (diesel: at least 30% of nameplate kW or the manufacturer’s minimum exhaust temperature); transfer switches operated monthlyNFPA 110, 8.4.2 · Owner; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Generator: annual supplemental load test when the monthly runs do not reach 30% of nameplate: 50% for 30 minutes, then 75% for 60 minutes (1.5 hours)NFPA 110, 8.4.2 · Contractor with a load bank · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 3 years
Generator, Level 1 (life-safety) systems: run for 4 continuous hours, or the system’s class duration if shorter, at least once every 36 monthsNFPA 110, 8.4.9 · Owner or contractor; report kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Emergency lighting and exit signs: monthly 30-second testNFPA 101, 7.9.3 · Owner; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Emergency lighting: annual 90-minute testNFPA 101, 7.9.3 · Owner or contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Fire extinguishers: monthly visual check, initialedNFPA 10, 7.2 · Owner · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire extinguishers: annual maintenance and tagNFPA 10, 7.3 · Licensed extinguisher contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire doors and shutters: annual inspection and testNFPA 80, 5.2 · Qualified person; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 4 years
Fire and smoke dampers: operational testNFPA 80, 19.4; NFPA 105 · Qualified contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year or Annual
Smoke control system: operated through each control sequence — semiannually for a dedicated system, annually for a nondedicated system that shares the building’s HVACNFPA 92, Ch. 8; IFC Sec. 909 (periodic testing) · Qualified contractor; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Fire drills: monthly while in session, documentedFor education. NFPA 101, 14.7.2 and 15.7.2 · Owner; documented · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Occupant load posted; crowd managers for events over 250 peopleFor assembly, retail. NFPA 101, 12.7.6 and 13.7.6 · Owner · Not yet checked line by line against the source.

Questions about the fire code in Arizona

Which fire code applies in Arizona today?

State Fire Code: IFC 2024 (with listed appendices) as modified by A.A.C. R4-36 Article 3, effective Apr 13, 2026 (R4-36-201, 32 A.A.R. 558). Statewide minimum fire code adopted by the state forester through the State Fire Marshal (A.R.S. 37-1383); replaced IFC 2018. Cities of 100,000+ with their own code may assume enforcement by ordinance; local codes must be equal or stricter.

Who enforces the fire code in Arizona?

DFFM Office of the State Fire Marshal: statewide enforcement and plan review for state, county and public-school buildings and areas without a local fire code; cities of 100,000+ that assumed jurisdiction (and other local fire officials) enforce their own adopted codes.

What changes next for the fire code in Arizona?

IFC 2024 since Apr 13, 2026. In force; 4 A.A.C. 36 (Supp. 26-1) read Oct 20, 2026: R4-36-201 adopts IFC 2024 with listed appendices, effective Apr 13, 2026 (32 A.A.R. 558). CONFLICT: DFFM State Statute and Fire Code page (read Oct 21, 2026) still says the office works under the 2012 IFC; the AHJ confirms which edition applies

Other areas in Arizona

Everything in force in Arizona

Free reference. No account is needed. Membership — Coming soon.