The Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) comes from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). The Fire Code says no business permit or permit to operate may be issued without one. You can apply through the Unified Application Form at your city's Business One-Stop Shop. Under RA 11032, the FSIC must be issued within 7 working days, and within 3 working days when you renew your business permit.[1,3,2]
FSIC time limits
| Situation | Time limit | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New FSIC (with a new business permit) | Not longer than 7 working days | RA 11032 Sec 12 |
| Renewal of business permit | FSIC within 3 working days | RA 11032 Sec 12 |
| FSIC for a Certificate of Occupancy | Within 5 working days once compliant | National Building Code IRR Sec 309 |
Why the FSIC comes before the business permit
RA 9514, the Fire Code of 2008, says no occupancy permit, business permit or permit to operate shall be issued without an FSIC from the Chief, BFP. It also makes a fire safety inspection a prerequisite to permits and licenses from local governments and other agencies.[1]
The inspection is not a one-time event. The BFP inspects every building at least once a year and every time the owner or occupant renews the business permit.[1]
Where and how to apply
The Quezon City BFP charter describes two ways in: the BFP's FSIC application form at the fire station, or the Unified Application Form at the city's one-stop shop, under JMC 2021-01. The unified form files the fire safety application together with the business permit, which saves you a trip.[3]
Payments are going online in some cities. From 15 October 2026, Quezon City businesses pay FSIC fees directly to the BFP through its Fire Safety Inspection System (FSIS), as reported by the Daily Tribune.[4]
- File the applicationUse the unified form at the BOSS or eBOSS, or the BFP form at the fire station.
- Get your assessmentA BFP fire code assessor computes the fee and gives you an order of payment.
- Pay the BFPPay the BFP's collecting agent or its online channel. Do not pay the fee to anyone else.
- InspectionAn inspector visits. Have your extinguishers, exits, signs and wiring ready.
- Receive the FSICClaim the certificate and keep it with your business permit papers.
How long does an FSIC take?
RA 11032 Section 12 says the issuance of the FSEC and FSIC shall in no case be longer than seven working days. For a business permit renewal, the BFP must present the FSIC within three working days from application.[2]
For a new or renovated building, the National Building Code rules say the city or municipal fire marshal issues the FSIC within five working days once the fire safety requirements are met, as part of the Certificate of Occupancy process.[5]
Some cities want a recent one. General Trias, for example, asks new permit applicants for an FSIC for Occupancy valid in the last nine months.[6]
How much is the FSIC fee?
The Fire Code gives the BFP, with DILG approval, the power to prescribe the schedule of fees and fire service charges. Assessment of fire code taxes, fees and fines is vested in the BFP, and the BFP collects them.[1]
The fee is assessed by the BFP. The BFP charter published by Quezon City (2022) sets the FSIC fee at 15% of all fees charged by the LGU or PEZA, and never lower than ₱500. Your local fire station confirms the amount.[1,3]
Example: if the city's assessment of your business permit fees came to ₱4,000, the FSIC fee at 15% would be ₱600.[3]
New buildings pay a separate fire code fee: 0.1% of the verified estimated value of the building, but not more than ₱50,000. This applies to the owner of a building to be erected, not to a tenant renting a stall.[1]
Before the fire inspector visits
- Have a charged, tagged fire extinguisher where staff can reach it
- Keep exits and aisles clear and easy to open during business hours
- Put up exit and no-smoking signs where they can be seen
- Fix exposed wiring and overloaded extension cords
- Store LPG tanks upright and away from heat
- Keep a copy of your lease and building documents on hand
- Pay only through the BFP's own channel and keep the receipt
Questions people ask
- Who collects the FSIC fee, the city or the BFP?
- The BFP. The Fire Code says all taxes, fees and fines in the Code are collected by the BFP, and assessment is vested in the BFP.
- Do I need a new FSIC every year?
- The BFP inspects at least once a year and every time you renew your business permit. Under RA 11032 it must present the FSIC within three working days of your renewal application.
- How much is the FSIC fee?
- The BFP charter published by Quezon City sets it at 15% of all fees charged by the LGU or PEZA, minimum ₱500. Ask your fire station for your assessment.
- Can I apply for the FSIC together with my business permit?
- Yes. The QC BFP charter lists the Unified Application Form at the one-stop shop as a way to apply for the FSIC.
Sources
Checked 13 November 2026. We link the agency's own page for every requirement. Rules change; confirm with the office before you pay.
- R.A. 9514 (Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008) · Lawphil Project · 19 December 2008
- Republic Act No. 11032 (Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018) · Lawphil Project (Arellano Law Foundation) · 28 May 2018
- BFD Citizens Charter 2022 (BFP Quezon City) · Bureau of Fire Protection / Quezon City Government · 2022
- QC, BFP link online systems to simplify business permits · Daily Tribune · 16 October 2026
- Implementing Rules and Regulations of the National Building Code of the Philippines (P.D. 1096), 2005 Revised Edition · Department of Public Works and Highways · 2005
- Citizen's Charter - OCBPLO 2025 · City Government of General Trias · 2025