Montgomery County, MD Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sprinkler exemption cap
- 30 clients maximum
- Room location rule
- level of exit discharge only
- Exit rule
- exterior door at grade, each room
- Governing rule
- COMCOR 22.00.07.250 (NFPA 101 amendment)
- Enforcing agency
- Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service
Summary
Montgomery County's Fire Safety Code exempts a day care center from automatic sprinklers only if it serves 30 or fewer clients, uses only ground-floor rooms, and every one of those rooms has an exterior exit door at grade.
Automatic sprinkler protection is not required if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the day care center has not more than 30 clients; (2) all rooms used for day care are located on the level of exit discharge; and (3) all rooms used for day care have at least one exterior exit door at grade level.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
COMCOR 22.00.07.250 amends NFPA 101 Subsection 16.3.5.1 as adopted for Montgomery County day care centers: sprinkler protection is not required if the center has no more than 30 clients, all rooms used for day care sit on the level of exit discharge, and each of those rooms has at least one exterior exit door at grade level. A center that serves more clients, places day care rooms above or below the exit-discharge level, or lacks a ground-level exterior door in every day care room must install full automatic sprinkler protection under the county's amended fire code, which is enforced by the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service under Chapter 22 of the County Code.
Violations & Fines
Centers that don't meet the exemption and lack sprinklers can be denied a use-and-occupancy permit or cited under Chapter 22 until full automatic sprinkler protection is installed and inspected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Montgomery County day care center need fire sprinklers?
What if a day care center doesn't qualify for the exemption?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland building safety overview
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