Rainier Fire installs, inspects, services and monitors commercial fire alarm systems in Everett and across Snohomish County, as part of serving all of Washington. Who issues the permits, and where the inspection report goes, changes from one city to the next. Here’s how it works, and what we take care of for you.
Who issues the permits
A fire alarm project usually needs two permits: a fire alarm permit from the fire authority, which reviews the design, and an electrical permit for the wiring. In Snohomish County, who issues them depends on where the building is:
- City of Everett: the city issues both. A fire alarm first needs an electrical permit from the city’s Permit Counter, then a separate Fire Department permit for the alarm system layout, which the Fire Marshal’s office handles. Everett is one of about two dozen Washington cities that issue their own electrical permits and inspections instead of the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Lynnwood and Marysville do too.
- Mill Creek: the City of Mill Creek issues the fire alarm permit, with fees set under an agreement with South County Fire (city fee schedule). The electrical permit comes from L&I.
- Unincorporated Snohomish County: Snohomish County Planning & Development Services issues fire alarm system and fire alarm transmitter permits (a transmitter is the device that sends alarms to the monitoring center) as trade permits, and the County Fire Marshal’s Office works with the county’s building inspectors on site inspections. The electrical permit comes from L&I.
For other cities in the county, we confirm the right agency for your address before work starts. On jobs where your electrician pulls the electrical permit, such as our Parts & Smarts program for electrical contractors, we handle the fire alarm permit and design.
Design review by a NICET III
Washington requires fire alarm construction documents to be reviewed by a NICET Level III in Fire Alarm Systems, a Level III certified fire alarm designer or a licensed professional engineer before they’re submitted for a permit (WAC 51-54A-0907). Rainier Fire’s designs are stamped by a NICET III, so that review is built in, not an extra step. More on how we design and install systems.
Where the inspection report goes
After the yearly inspection and test, the report has to reach the fire authority. Across much of Snohomish County, that happens through The Compliance Engine, an online system fire departments use to collect inspection reports:
- South County Fire, which serves Mill Creek, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Brier and Mountlake Terrace, requires inspection and testing reports to be filed through The Compliance Engine.
- The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office accepts annual reports for unincorporated areas through The Compliance Engine as well.
In Everett and elsewhere, we file the report the way that fire department requires. Either way, you don’t have to send it yourself. See how our inspection and testing works.
What we do in Snohomish County
- Installation & design for new construction and tenant improvements, from plans to fire department acceptance.
- Inspection & testing, with the report filed for you.
- Panel replacement & upgrades when a panel reaches end of life.
- Monitoring & cellular communicators, so your alarm keeps reporting as copper phone lines are retired.
- Parts & Smarts for electrical contractors who want to keep the fire alarm scope.
Have a building in Everett or Snohomish County?
Tell us the address and what you need. We’ll confirm who issues the permits there and take it from there.
Get a QuoteSources
- Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, City electrical permits and inspections.
- City of Everett, Fire Permits (Fire Marshal’s office).
- City of Mill Creek, 2026 Master Fee Schedule (fire permits).
- Snohomish County, Permit and Application Types and Fire Inspections (Fire Marshal’s Office).
- South County Fire, Fire Marshal’s Office.
- Washington Administrative Code, WAC 51-54A-0907, fire alarm design review.