Independent reference. Not a government website. Guidance, not engineering advice: confirm with your fire marshal.

Florida · city · ERRCS / BDA requirements

ERRCS and BDA requirements in Hollywood, Florida

Hollywood Fire Rescue is the fire AHJ in the city. It has not published its own BDA signal levels or test forms that we could find, so the state rules and Broward County's Section 118 permit steps are the published baseline.

Last verified Updated Confidence low6 sourcesChangelog

Guidance, not engineering advice. Rules on this page come from the documents listed under Sources. Confirm with Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety, Division of Fire Prevention and Life Safety before you design, permit or test a system.

Who must comply

State rules apply here too. See Florida statewide rules.

RuleEffectCitationSource
As in all of Broward, the FCC license holder must approve the plans before review, and the system may not be switched on before the license holder authorizes it.NoteFBC Broward County Edition 118.4Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals
TriggerPublished value
Minimum building sizeNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Minimum storiesNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Height triggerNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Below-grade areasNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Building types namedNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Existing buildings must retrofitNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Compliance deadlineNot published; confirm with the fire marshal

A November 2025 Sun-Sentinel report counted 18 of Hollywood's 83 high-rises cited for weak radio coverage.

Signal and coverage

Not published by the city.

RequirementValue
Minimum downlink signalNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Minimum uplink signalNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Delivered audio quality (DAQ)Not published; confirm with the fire marshal
Coverage, general areasNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Coverage, critical areasNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Critical areas namedNot published; confirm with the fire marshal
Public safety radio bandsNot published; confirm with the fire marshal

Not published by the city. Broward County's guideline values are on the Broward County page; ask Fire Prevention which levels it tests to.

Testing

TestWhat the source saysSource
Acceptance testNot published in the local documents we found; confirm with the fire marshal.None found
Annual testNot published by the city. Broward County's annual test rule is on the Broward County page; confirm with the fire marshal.None found
Five-year testNot published in the local documents we found; confirm with the fire marshal.None found
Coverage assessment intervalSet by state law: the fire marshal may require an interior coverage assessment no more than once every 3 years for an existing high-rise or an existing building over 12,000 total gross square feet, and once every 5 years for other existing buildings, with exceptions for major alterations, reported radio failures and imminent threats.F.S. 633.202(18)(c)2

Permit and inspection process

  1. Ask Fire Prevention and Life Safety (954.967.4404) how to request a radio signal test for your building. City inspections page
  2. If a system is needed, follow Broward's Section 118 process: engineer-sealed design, license holder approval, then city building, electrical and fire permits. BORA Guidelines 1.4 to 1.9

Codes and standards referenced

Code or standardEditionSource
Florida Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1 and NFPA 101, Florida editions), in force statewide8th edition (NFPA 1, Florida 2021 edition), effective December 31, 2023rule
Florida Building Code, Broward County Edition, Chapter 1, Section 118Not published; confirm with the fire marshalbora

Notes

We will add Hollywood's own rules when the city publishes them.

Questions people ask

Does Hollywood publish its own BDA signal requirements?

Not that we could find on the city website as of our last check. Call Fire Prevention and Life Safety at 954.967.4404 and ask which signal levels and test method it uses.

Is Hollywood actually citing buildings?

Yes. A November 2025 Sun-Sentinel report counted 18 of the city's 83 high-rises cited for weak emergency radio coverage.

Sources

Primary documents we read for this page. Rules change; confirm with your fire marshal (AHJ).

  1. Florida Statutes 2026, section 633.202, subsection (18), The Florida SenateVerified October 25, 2026 · statute
  2. Florida Fire Prevention Code, 8th edition: Florida amendments to NFPA 1 (2021 edition), sections 11.10.2 and 11.10.2.1, Florida Division of State Fire MarshalVerified October 25, 2026 · code
  3. Rule 69A-60.003, F.A.C.: NFPA 1, the Fire Code, Florida 2021 edition, adopted (effective 12/31/2023), Florida Department of State, Florida Administrative CodeVerified October 25, 2026 · rule
  4. Fire Prevention and Life Safety: inspections and permitting, City of Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach SafetyVerified October 25, 2026 · ahj page
  5. BORA ERCES Guidelines, revised 2021-10-14 (archived copy; broward.org blocks automated access), Broward County Board of Rules and AppealsVerified October 25, 2026 · ahj document
  6. Fort Lauderdale cites 69 high-rises with weak radio signals (South Florida Sun-Sentinel via Firehouse, November 2025), Firehouse / South Florida Sun-SentinelVerified October 25, 2026 · news