Milford Fire Marshal's Office Seeks 40% Permit Fee Increase; New Permit Categories Added

The Milford Fire Marshal's Office is proposing to raise the percentage it charges on top of building department permit fees from 25 percent to 35 percent, a 40 percent relative increase that Deputy Fire Marshal Tim Suden told the Board of Fire Commissioners is needed to address chronic understaffing and the rapid pace of new development in the city.

The proposal, presented at the Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on May 19, would also add new permit categories — including one for underground fire service mains and another for liquefied petroleum gas storage and use — and would introduce a paid fire extinguisher training service that the Fire Marshal's Office has historically provided free of charge.

If approved, the changes would take effect July 1, 2026, the start of the new fiscal year.

The Procedural Path

Unlike most fee changes, the Fire Marshal's permit schedule does not require approval from the Board of Aldermen. Under Milford's local ordinance establishing the schedule, changes require approval from the Fire Chief, Assistant Chiefs, and the Board of Fire Commissioners, followed by a minimum 30-day public posting before taking effect.

Suden told the commission the proposal has the support of Fire Chief Anthony Fabrizi, Assistant Chief of Operations Christopher Waiksnoris, and Assistant Chief Stephen Rabel, who also serves as Fire Marshal.

How the Math Works

The Building Department charges permit fees based on a mathematical formula tied to the total cost of a construction project. The Fire Marshal's Office then charges an additional fee equal to a percentage of the Building Department's fee. That percentage is currently 25 percent. Under Suden's proposal, it would rise to 35 percent.

Suden told the commission that comparable Connecticut municipalities charge significantly more under the same model. Darien charges 50 percent of its Building Department fee, he said, and West Hartford charges 65 percent.

Based on current permit volume, Suden estimated the increase would generate approximately $17,000 to $20,000 in additional annual revenue. Current year Fire Marshal permit revenue is approximately $174,000.

Suden also presented a longer-term revenue projection. With a fully staffed and statutorily compliant office, he told the commission, the city could be generating between $310,000 and $541,000 annually in Fire Marshal permit revenue. The current schedule was established January 1, 2018, by then-Deputy Fire Marshal Anthony Fino and then-Fire Chief Douglas Edo, both since retired.

The Staffing Argument

Suden's central justification for the increase was a comparison between current staffing and the requirements of National Fire Protection Association Standard 1730, the national standard for fire prevention organization and deployment.

"I need a total of 11 people in the office to meet that standard with all the hours that are needed to perform this," Suden told the commission, referring to NFPA 1730 staffing benchmarks based on the volume of plan reviews, field inspections, annual inspections, investigations, and public education hours the office currently handles.

The additional revenue from the proposed increase, Suden said, would help fund operational and contractual needs, including the hiring of additional inspectors.

New Permit Categories

The proposal also adds three new revenue categories that Suden told the commission have been gaps in the existing fee schedule.

Underground fire service mains. Suden told the commission developers have routinely failed to obtain separate permits for underground fire service mains, either folding them into sprinkler permit applications or installing them without permits altogether.

LP gas storage and handling. This category is being added in response to new automated propane exchange kiosks, including one Suden said was recently installed at the Milford Walmart. The new technology allows customers to exchange propane tanks without an attendant present. Walmart applied for a permit through the Building Department, Suden said, but the application did not fall within the Building Department's regulatory authority for hazardous materials. The new permit category would close that gap.

Fire extinguisher training. The Fire Marshal's Office has historically provided fire extinguisher training to local businesses free of charge, despite OSHA requirements that businesses provide such training to their employees. Senior Fire Inspector Mark LeBreck recently provided training to the Connecticut Post Mall management company, which made a donation in lieu of payment. The new fee schedule would formalize a fee for this service.

What Drives the Demand

Suden told the commission that the city's pace of development has been the primary driver of increased Fire Marshal workload. Annual permit revenue has climbed sharply since a low during the COVID-19 period, recently exceeding $200,000 in a single fiscal year, according to figures Suden presented.

The city's recent approvals through Planning and Zoning include several major multi-unit residential and mixed-use developments along the Boston Post Road corridor, each of which requires Fire Marshal plan review and inspection.

"The city of Milford is growing at an unprecedented rate with multiple new developments throughout the city," Suden told the commission. "This division operates at maximum efficiency to meet the demands required by state law."

Exemptions

Suden confirmed in response to commissioner questions that the proposed fee structure would not apply to Milford Public Schools, which the Fire Marshal's Office treats as another city department, or to one- and two-family residential structures, which fall outside the Fire Marshal's jurisdiction.

What Happens Next

If approved by the Board of Fire Commissioners, the revised fee schedule will be posted publicly for a minimum of 30 days. The earliest possible effective date is July 1, 2026.

The Board of Fire Commissioners is chaired by Kevin C. McGrath. Other current members include Kathy Patterson, Vincent Averaimo, and William A. Brennan, with additional seats held by commissioners whose attendance at the May 19 meeting could not be confirmed from the meeting record.

Residents and business owners with questions can contact the Fire Marshal's Division at (203) 874-6321 or by email at MilfordFireMarshal@milfordct.gov.