Short answers to the questions we get
The long versions are on the guide pages. These are the two sentence versions.
If your question is not here, call (951) 717-3628 or send the form and ask it in the notes.
Everything in one place
Does California require fire sprinklers in new homes?
Yes, statewide since January 1, 2011, under section R313 of the California Residential Code, for new one and two family dwellings and townhouses.
What kind of system goes in a house?
NFPA 13D, the residential standard. Fewer heads and smaller pipe than a commercial system, often fed from the domestic water line, with garages and attics generally left out.
Does my ADU need sprinklers?
Government Code section 66314 says an ADU shall not be required to have them if they are not required for the primary residence, and building an ADU shall not trigger sprinklers in the existing house. A sprinklered primary house usually means the ADU gets them.
Does a remodel trigger sprinklers?
Sometimes, and the trigger is set by each city and county. We do not print a threshold we cannot cite. Ask the building department for your lot, in writing.
What does a system cost?
Installer quotes we have seen in Maryland run about $1.35 to $1.60 per sprinklered square foot new, $2 to $7 retrofit, and roughly $3,000 to $6,000 added for a tank and pump. California runs higher. A licensed installer quotes your house.
Is a 5 year inspection required on my house?
It depends on the occupancy and the local fire authority, and it is not the same everywhere. Ask the installer what applies to your address. The parts age either way.
A head is leaking. What first?
Close the sprinkler control valve on the riser, then call. Do not wait on an attic drip.
Can my house on a well have sprinklers?
Yes, from a storage tank and a pump sized by the calculation. It is normal rural design across both counties.
Are you the contractor?
No. We are a referral service. A licensed C-16 fire protection contractor quotes, contracts and permits the work. Verify them at cslb.ca.gov.
What happens after I send the form?
We confirm the basics and pass it to one licensed installer who covers your area. They call or text you. If the fit is wrong, tell us and we find another.
Do you charge the homeowner?
No. The homeowner pays nothing to this site.
Which areas do you cover?
The Inland Empire first: Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Temecula and Murrieta, the High Desert, Corona and Norco, and Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana and Ontario. More of California follows as installers join.
Want a real number for your house?
Send the address and a licensed C-16 fire protection contractor who covers your area calls you with a quote on their own paper. No list of bidders, no obligation.
Guides on this site: cost, requirements, ADUs, retrofit, 5 year inspection, repair, wildfire exterior, well water, recalled heads, permits, water service, rural access.