The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service inspects all occupancies in Winnipeg except one- and two-family homes. The Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg require certain timelines for inspections.
Annual inspections
Elderly person’s housing or hostels
Personal care homes
Child care centres
Residential care facilities
Hospitals
Converted residential dwellings (rooming houses) with shared bathrooms or facilities
High hazard industrial occupancy buildings (F1)
Food trucks/trailers, food carts, and commissaries
Inspections every 30 months
Converted residential dwellings (rooming houses) with no shared facilities
Inspections every three years
Licensed premise as defined by the Liquor Control Act
Private and public schools
Universities and colleges
Recreation centres like arenas, community clubs, and curling rinks
Hotels and motels
Restaurants in residential buildings
F2 Medium hazard industrial complexes
Other inspections
Fire Prevention Officers also inspect buildings or sites in the following cases:
Fire safety concerns
WFPS inspects buildings based on the Fire Prevention By-law and complaints or concerns from the public, agencies, or firefighters. Building owners are charged on the second and any subsequent fire inspection.
If you have concerns about a building’s fire safety, contact 311.
Licensing of day cares and residential care facilities
Inspections requested by the Province for licensing of Day Cares and Residential Care Facilities.
Building ownership, construction, and permits
Construction sites for commercial and multi-family buildings
Inspections as part of the permit and plan review for new building construction, additions and occupancy changes in existing buildings. Therea no inspection fees unless you need a second re-inspection.
License inspections required by the Planning, Property and Development branch of the City of Winnipeg.
Converted residential dwellings (rooming houses) where the ownership has changed (Doing Business in Winnipeg By-law 91/2008).
Life safety test inspections and occupancy inspections for new buildings before occupancy
Illegal use of occupancies
After a fire
Post-fire inspections: because of a fire in a building. The inspection ensures fire protection and life safety equipment works and the building is safe for occupancy.
These inspections are often referred through the fire investigator or WFPS firefighters. Fees associated with these inpsections may be recoverable through insurance.
On request
On request (for a fee): these inspections are usually conducted at the request of lawyers or mortgage companies on behalf of clients, related to a property transaction.
Special events, fireworks, & flame effects
In Winnipeg, you need a permit to set fireworks, or use any pyrotechnic displays or flame effects. Depending on the situation, we may inspect:
Special events and tents
Fireworks, pyrotechnic and flame effect sites
Fireworks distribution occupancy inspections
Plan examination
WFPS provides a plan review service for other city departments to ensure Building Code requirements are met for water supply and firefighting access to buildings. The number of plan examinations depends on how many permits are obtained. Fees may vary.
Fire Safety Plan review
Some occupancies need to produce and update Fire Safety Plans each year. WFPS can review these plans for a fee.