Got a citation?
You got a fire marshal notice about radio coverage. Now what?
A notice about emergency responder radio coverage is serious but manageable. Most owners get time to fix it, and the steps are the same almost everywhere. Read the notice first, then work through this list.
Step 1: Read the notice closely
Write down four things from the notice: the code section cited, the deadline, the contact at the fire department, and what it asks for (a test, a permit application, a working system, or a report). Notices differ by city, and the date on yours controls.
If you are in Florida, the statute gives you at least 1 year from the notice of code violation to complete a required retrofit after the statutory dates (F.S. 633.202(18)(g)). Elsewhere, existing-building timelines are local. San Diego and San Francisco, for example, give existing high-rises without a wired fire department phone system up to 3 years after a failed radio test to install a system (SDFD ERRCS guideline II.B.3; SFFD AB 2.01 Addendum G, I.D).
Step 2: Check whether the rule applies to your building
Run the building checker. It applies every published exemption for the jurisdictions we cover, cites the source, and lists the questions it could not answer. If you think the building is exempt, raise it with the fire department in writing, with the citation.
Step 3: Get a signal test
You cannot size a fix without measuring. A test or survey shows which floors and areas fail. Some cities require it before any installation; Houston, for example, requires a test before any BDA goes in (Houston CE-1350). Ask the fire department whether it publishes technical criteria; the model code says the fire code official keeps a document with frequencies and design details (IFC 2021 510.4.2.2).
Step 4: Hire qualified people
At a minimum under the model code, the system designer and lead installer need a valid FCC general radio operator license and in-building system training (IFC 2021 510.5.3). Your city may add more, such as a licensed engineer's seal. Your city page lists local credentials where they are published.
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Step 5: Consent, permit, install, test
- Consent. The radio licensee (usually the city, county or regional radio system) must give express consent before a non-licensee operates a booster, kept in a recordable format (47 CFR 90.219(b)(1)(i)). Florida requires the same for any new system or change to an existing one (F.S. 633.202(18)(d)).
- Permit. A construction permit is required to install or modify a system (IFC 2021 510.3).
- Install and acceptance test. The system is tested floor by floor after installation (IFC 2021 510.5.4). See BDA testing.
- Close the notice. Send the fire department what it asked for (often the acceptance report and permit sign-off) and get written confirmation that the violation is resolved.
Step 6: Keep it compliant
After the fix, the system needs an annual test and a report to the fire department (IFC 2021 510.6.1). Keep the acceptance report and amplifier gain values; losing them can mean redoing the acceptance test (IFC 2021 510.5.4 item 6). The annual inspection guide covers the yearly routine.
Keep the board and owners informed
If you manage a condominium or association, share the notice, the deadline and the plan with the board early. The condo board guide has a checklist and the records to keep.
This is guidance, not legal or engineering advice. Confirm every step with your fire marshal (AHJ).
Questions people ask
How long do I have to fix an ERRCS violation in Florida?
If the fire marshal requires an existing building to retrofit its system after the statute's 2024 and 2025 dates, the owner gets at least 1 year to finish. The year starts when the fire marshal cites the owner with a notice of code violation (F.S. 633.202(18)(g)). Your notice may give a specific date; use it.
Can the fire marshal require more than state law in Florida?
Not for whether a system is required, or how it is designed or installed. F.S. 633.202(18)(i) bars local fire marshals from enforcing stricter requirements than the Florida Fire Prevention Code and the statute on those points.
Should I appeal?
That is a question for your attorney. Before deciding, check whether your building fits a published exemption (the checker applies them) and whether the outside signal is the problem. In Florida, if the fire marshal finds the signal inadequate at the building's exterior, no system or assessment is required (F.S. 633.202(18)(e)).
Sources
Primary documents we read for this page. Rules change; confirm with your fire marshal (AHJ).
- Florida Statutes 2026, section 633.202, subsection (18), The Florida Senate
- International Fire Code 2021, Section 510 (text as published by the City of Eaton), City of Eaton, reproducing the ICC International Fire Code
- 47 CFR 90.219, Use of signal boosters, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- San Diego Fire-Rescue ERRCS guideline (9/22/23), City of San Diego
- Administrative Bulletin 2.01 (2025), Addendum G, San Francisco Fire Department
- Emergency Responder Communication Coverage (ERCC) Guideline, Form CE-1350 (revised July 2025), City of Houston
Related
Check your building against the published ERRCS rules
Answer a few questions about your building and see what the published fire code rules say for your jurisdiction, with the source for every line.
ERRCS for condo boards and associations
What condo boards and property managers need to know about ERRCS and BDA systems: deadlines, who owns the obligation, bids, records and yearly costs.
What a BDA system costs, part by part
What drives the cost of a BDA system for firefighter radio coverage, which code rules add cost, and one reported high-rise price, with sources.
Request quotes for an ERRCS or BDA system
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