New York City fire code requirements

New York City has its own fire code, separate from the rest of the state, and the FDNY enforces it. Here is what it asks of restaurants, landlords and businesses in the five boroughs.

New York City Nassau County Suffolk County Westchester

The code

NYC Fire Code

Who enforces it

FDNY Bureau of Fire Prevention

Fire extinguishers

Monthly	Your staff checks each unit: mounted, gauge in the green, tag attached. Date and initial the tag.
Every year	Serviced by an FDNY-approved company. The technician must hold an FDNY W-96 Certificate of Fitness.
The FDNY tag	Every serviced unit gets an FDNY tag showing the company, the service date and the technician's certificate number. Tags are numbered and issued only to certified companies.
Mounting	Bottom of the unit at least 4 inches off the floor, top no higher than 5 feet.
Kitchens	At least one Class K extinguisher within 30 feet of commercial cooking equipment.

Kitchen hood suppression systems

Every 6 months	Inspected, tested and serviced. The technician must hold an FDNY S-17 Certificate of Fitness.
After service	A tag if the system passes, or a written report listing any defects.
New systems	Plans are filed and reviewed before installation, then the FDNY inspects and witnesses a test. A commercial cooking system permit is required.
Your staff	Shown how to use the manual pull station at least every 6 months.

Hood and duct cleaning

Every 3 months	The minimum in New York City, cleaned to bare metal. This is stricter than the national standard.
Every 6 months	Vertical ducts more than three stories tall, at a minimum.
Solid fuel	Inspected monthly and cleaned at least every 3 months.
Filters	Checked daily and cleaned at least monthly.
Who may clean	Only FDNY-approved companies, with a numbered decal on the hood and records kept for the inspector.

Sprinkler systems (NFPA 25)

Monthly	Gauges and control valves checked.
Quarterly	Waterflow alarms, supervised valves and the fire department connection.
Every year	Heads, piping and hangers inspected, and a main drain test.
Every 5 years	Internal pipe assessment and gauges replaced or recalibrated.

In New York City, people who inspect and test sprinkler systems must hold an FDNY S-12 Certificate of Fitness.

If you fall behind

The FDNY can issue violation orders, summonses heard at OATH and, for immediate dangers, vacate orders. After a summons you must file a Certificate of Correction by the compliance date. Fixing the problem does not cancel the hearing, and late corrections bring higher fines.

Sources

A plain-language summary, checked October 2026. Codes change and the fire code official has the final word on your building. Call us at (516) 310-5075 if you are not sure what applies to you.

Let us keep track of it for you.

We keep every due date on file and remind you before anything lapses.

Request service Call (516) 310-5075