Short answer: We accept requests from St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County in Missouri, and the Metro East in Illinois. The service your hood system needs is the same everywhere, but who enforces the fire code, which edition applies, and what permits look like differ by region and sometimes by fire district.
Why Your Region Matters
A kitchen hood suppression system needs the same core care wherever it is: service at least every six months and after any discharge, working fuel or power shutoff, clean and capped nozzles, and current fusible links. What changes from place to place is the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), the office that reviews plans, witnesses acceptance tests and writes up deficiencies.
Missouri has no statewide fire code for restaurants, so cities and fire protection districts adopt their own. Illinois is different: the state adopted a Life Safety Code that applies everywhere, and it licenses the technicians who service kitchen systems. That's why a remodel in Wildwood, a new build in Wentzville, and an upgrade in Belleville can follow three different sets of steps.
How the Four Regions Compare
| Region | Who enforces | Fire code edition | Notable for hoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis City | St. Louis FD Bureau of Fire Prevention, with the Building Division | 2018 IFC (Ord. 70796) | Joint plan review of fire protection systems |
| St. Louis County | 19 municipal fire departments and 24 fire protection districts | Varies, 2015 to 2021 IFC | Metro West FPD requires an agent discharge at acceptance; Clayton requires the permit card on site |
| St. Charles County, MO | Fire protection districts and the City of St. Charles FD | 2021 IFC (where confirmed) | District occupancy permits in Wentzville FPD and O'Fallon FPD |
| Metro East, IL | City fire departments, plus the Illinois OSFM | NFPA 101 (2015) statewide; 2015 IFC in Belleville, 2021 IFC in Edwardsville | Permits include a witnessed wet function test; Class 2K technician license |
What Every Region Has in Common
Whatever your region, the common requests are the same: a semiannual kitchen fire suppression inspection, a recharge or repair after a discharge or failed test, fixes for fire code deficiencies, and new systems and UL 300 upgrades. Before an inspection, our restaurant fire inspection checklist helps you spot common problems.
Tell Us Where Your Kitchen Is
When you send a request, include the street address or ZIP code and, if you know it, the fire department or district that inspects you. If a fire inspector has already written you up, include the notice and its deadline so the provider knows the timeline. If you're in a stadium, casino, hospital or campus kitchen with its own facilities team, mention who should be contacted to schedule access. The more specific the location, the easier it is for the provider to plan around your AHJ's permit and acceptance steps.
Health department food permits are a separate track in every region. Passing a health inspection doesn't mean your hood system has been reviewed by the fire authority.
Sources: City of St. Louis, Building Codes Adopted; Firehouse, June 21, 2026; Metro West FPD Ordinance No. 121; Mehlville FPD Policy Book; Wentzville FPD Permits; O'Fallon FPD application; City of St. Charles fire code; Illinois OSFM, Life Safety Code; Belleville FD Permit Package; Edwardsville Fire Permit Packet; OSFM Fire Equipment Employee License. Requirements vary by jurisdiction; confirm with your local fire official.