Forms - Plan Review

Building or Renovating

Before beginning the construction, alteration, repair, or changing the occupancy of a building, a substantial land structure, or structure regulated by state division of fire and life safety (or their designated Jurisdiction Having Authority [JHA]), plans and specifications regarding that building's or structure's location on the property, area, height, number of stories, occupancy, type of construction, fire-resistive construction, interior finish, exit facilities, electrical systems, mechanical systems, flammable or combustible liquid and gas storage tanks and their appurtenances, automatic fire-extinguishing systems, and fire alarm systems must be submitted by the owner or the owner's representative for examination and approval. This review does not address structural considerations or mechanical or electrical review beyond that necessary to confirm compliance with fire or life safety requirements. A copy of the approval must be posted as required in 13 AAC 55.100.

It is prohibited to occupy a building for which plans have not been examined and approved if the construction, alteration, repair, or change in occupancy began on or after December 5, 1956. The JHA may post a building constructed without a plan review, as set out in 13 AAC 50.070(b). 

Note: Residential housing that is triplex or smaller are exempt from this requirement.

By authority of...

• Alaska Statutes: AS 18.70.080
• Alaska Administration Code: 13AAC 50.025
• Matanuska-Susitna Borough: Resolution 06-054, Title 8.45.010 Adoption of Codes, MSB 17.73.100

Adopted Building Codes - 2021 CODE CYCLE

Title 13 of the Alaska Administrative Code, Chapters 50 through 55, was adopted and amended to the 2021 International Building, Fire, Fuel Gas and Mechanical Codes. This new code takes affect on October 28, 2022.

All of the International Building codes are on three year cycles for updates. At the state level, we often lag from the most current versions. Public notifications will be done prior to the consideration of the code updates. Currently, we are using the 2021 versions. 

• 2021 International Building Code
• 2021 International Fire Code
• 2021 International Mechanical  Code
• 2021 International Existing Building Code

The codes above are linked to the ICC eCodes Free Subscription Web Site. This site is designed to allow you to view the International Codes for free. You are limited in your abilities to search and print, however all sections of the codes are available for you. The State of Alaska and MSB have not adopted the International Residential Code (IRC). For reference purposes, the 2015 IRC codes may be viewed HERE.

If you are interested in being able to have full search and printing abilities, please visit shop.ICCsafe.org for a pay option, that will allow full access and full features. For technical support using this product, please call International Code Council® at 888-422-7233 ext 33822. COPYRIGHT 2007 by INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL

NOTE: The International Codes are designed for adoption by state or local governments by reference only. Jurisdictions adopting them may make necessary additions, deletions and amendments in their adopting document.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The International Codes® are a copyrighted work owned by the International Code Council, Inc. Without advance written permission from the copyright owner, no part of these books may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including, without limitation, electronic, optical or mechanical means (by way of example and not limitation, photocopying, or recording by or in an information storage retrieval system). For information on permission to copy material exceeding fair use, please contact: President, International Code Council, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, Virginia 22041-3401. (Phone 703-931-4533).

Building Permit Process

Submit completed plan review application form and construction documents (see above) to the Permit Technician at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

1. If your project is for an existing building, submit a copy of the previous building plan review approval letter and certificate. It is prohibited to occupy a building for which plans have not been examined or approved.
2. Fire system plan reviews (fire alarm, fire suppression, hood suppressions, and fuel systems) will be submitted using the Plan Review Application above.
3. A plan review fee will be calculated and a fee letter will be generated by the Permit Technician.
4. The plans are reviewed by a Deputy Fire Marshal after receipt of the fee.
5. The review is usually completed within a three-week time frame, however, additional information may be required.
6. Once the review has been approved as submitted and/or modified, an approval letter and certificate will be issued.
7. A copy of the certificate must be posted as required in 13 AAC 55.100(b).
8. Once work has been completed on-site and ready to open to the public, contact a staff member at (907)861-8030 or FireCode@/MatSuGov.us to schedule a final inspection.
9. If there are deficiencies noted at the inspection, a timeframe will be established for completion of corrections. Once any deficiencies have been corrected, a certificate of occupancy will be issued and the plan review will be closed.

Fees for Plan Review

ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. The plan review fee is established by the State of Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety as adopted in the Alaska Administrative Code;

• upon application for a plan review, a plan review fee must be paid to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Central Mat-Su FSA is a deferred jurisdiction within the MSB);
• the value of the proposed construction will be determined by the this office using the valuation schedule, the plan review fee table and the plan review fee formula (13 AAC 50.027(c)(6)(7)(8)). Link is listed above, page 35;
• new construction, additions, or an existing structures that has not been through the CMSFD plan review process is based on square footage and the formula mentioned above.
• renovation, alterations, and mechanical changes and fuel system installation and replacement valuation is determined by the project cost;
• the fee schedule will then be applied to the calculated fee; if the Fire Marshal cannot determine project value using the valuation schedule or the construction estimate, an hourly fee of $95 (minimum of 2 hours) will be charged;
• the plan review fee for home day cares is $150;
• the plan review fee for R-3 assisted living facilities (5 or less residents) is $150;
• the plan review fee for a relocation review is $150, if it has previously been approved through the CMSFD plan review process;
• the plan review fee for a special event is $150;
• the minimum fee for other uses requiring administrative approval, such as impairments, code modifications, and footing/foundation is $150;
• if plans are revised to an extent that requires a new plan review, the charge will be the same as for new plans;
• the charge for a plan review for plans submitted for identical structures within the same subdivision or planned unit development is the full fee for one original set, and 60% of the full plan review fee for each additional set of plans of the same identical structure; each identical structure shall be issued a separate approval permit;
• if any work for which a plan review and approval is required by this subsection has been started without first obtaining plan review and approval, a special processing plan review fee will be charged; the special processing plan review fee is an additional charge equal to the amount of the standard plan review fee for the project; subsequent violations by the same person or business will result in an additional special processing fee multiplied by the number of previous violations;

Knox Box

A Knox Box, known officially as the KNOX-BOX© Rapid Entry System, is a secure emergency access program developed for property owners and fire departments. For more information, visit our Knox Box page.

Community Outreach

The Central Mat-Su Fire Department has a robust public education program that provides many services beyond responding to emergencies. We schedule many different events throughout the year. If you are interested in scheduling a fire station tour or another kind of event, you must fill out the proper request form and submit. Someone will get back to you within ten (10) business days. In order to schedule fire department services, we require a two week notice prior to the date you would like to schedule. There is no charge for our services.

Below are some activities that we engage in:

• Fire Station Tours
• Safety Events at local businesses
• Mat-Su Home Show
• Safety events at local schools
• Special events at local schools
• Fire and Life Safety Assemblies at local schools
• Career Information Presentations

Below are services we provide to the community:

• Smoke Alarm Installations or Maintenance
• Residential Home Fire Safety Survey’s
• Supply Residential Home Address Markers (MSB 11.20.060)
• Firewise Survey’s

Safety Tips

These downloadable safety tips are actually links to several different websites such as the State of Alaska Fire Marshal's office and National Fire Protection Association. NFPA offers free safety tip sheets on a variety of fire and life safety topics. Other topics are available at www.nfpa.org/safety-information/safety-tip-sheets. Download, print and share these tip sheets to spread the word about fire safety.

Downloadable Safety Tips

• Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• Sky Lanterns - STATE PROHIBITED.
• Smoke Alarms