Your hydrant, on your property
This page covers private hydrants. These sit on your lot and are fed by a private fire service main, the underground pipe that runs from the water connection to your hydrants and sprinkler risers (NFPA 24 covers the main and the equipment attached to it).
A hydrant on a public street is different. Santa Monica runs its own water system through the Water Resources Division of Public Works, so questions about a curbside hydrant go to the city. We don't install those.
Plan review starts at 333 Olympic Drive
Hydrant work needs approved plans first. In Santa Monica, plans for fire protection systems go to the Santa Monica Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division, addressed to Plan Review at 333 Olympic Dr., 2nd Floor. The department issues its permit only after the fees are paid.
New filings follow the 2025 California Building Standards Code as amended by Santa Monica. For questions about your project, the Fire Prevention Division's general line is (310) 458-8915.
How a hydrant installation runs
- Design. We lay out the main, the control valve and the hydrant location on your site plan to NFPA 24.
- Submittal. The plan set goes to Fire Prevention plan review. Digging waits for the permit.
- Underground work. The crew trenches, lays and joins the main, then sets the valve and the hydrant.
- Flush, test and final inspection. The new main is flushed and hydrostatically tested, and the Fire Prevention Division then inspects the finished system; treat the hydrant as in service only after it passes that inspection.
Hedrick Fire Protection does our California work. It holds C-16 (fire protection) and C-10 (electrical) contractor licenses and is licensed by the California State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems.
The years after it goes in
A new hydrant needs regular care. Under NFPA 25, private hydrants are inspected and flow tested every year. The flow test also tells you which bonnet color fits, since NFPA 291 sets a color code by flow class.
We book that through our annual fire hydrant testing in Santa Monica, while fire hydrant maintenance and fire hydrant repair cover the work between tests.
What to send for a quote
Start with the site plan. Then add:
- The property address.
- A site plan showing the buildings, the street frontage and any existing fire main.
- What the hydrant has to protect, and whether sprinklers are going in at the same time (see fire sprinkler installation in Santa Monica).
- Any comments you already have from plan review or the fire marshal.
We'll reply with a quote. The schedule depends on the plan review queue and the length of the trench, so we set dates once the scope is clear and the permit is in sight.
Call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com to get started.
For sites outside the city, see hydrant installations in Los Angeles County and Orange County, or return to our Santa Monica fire protection page.
Santa Monica hydrant installation questions
Can you install a hydrant on a public street in Santa Monica?
No. Street hydrants belong to the city's water system, which the Water Resources Division of Public Works runs. We install private hydrants on your property.
Does LA County Fire cover Santa Monica?
No. The city has its own fire department, and its Fire Prevention Division handles plan review and inspections of fire protection systems inside city limits.
Is Santa Monica still in your service area?
Yes. It's one of our listed service areas.
Do you also work on fire sprinklers?
Yes. Sprinklers and private hydrants are both water-based systems, and we install and service both; our fire sprinkler service page has the details.
Our services include
Related links
Planning a private hydrant?
Private hydrants, fire service mains and yearly hydrant testing.
(213) 568-0188