Franklin County, NC Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing officer
- Franklin County Fire Marshal
- Inspection duty
- day care facilities per G.S. ch. 110 (Sec. 11-24(a)(5))
- Code adopted
- NC State Fire Code (Sec. 11-26)
- Applies to
- unincorporated Franklin County (Sec. 11-23(c))
- Criminal penalty
- misdemeanor, up to $500.00 (Sec. 11-37(a))
- Appeal deadline
- 10 days to Commissioner of Insurance (Sec. 11-37(c))
Summary
The Franklin County Fire Marshal must make fire prevention inspections of day care facilities in the unincorporated county, a duty spelled out alongside school inspections in the county's own Fire Prevention and Life Safety ordinance. Violations of fire code orders bring both criminal and civil penalties.
(a)Duties of the fire marshal. Duties of the fire marshal shall include, but are not limited to: ... (5)Making fire prevention inspections of schools as required by G.S. ch. 115C and of day care facilities as authorized by G.S. ch. 110;(6)Making inspections of places of public gathering relative to fire protection and fire prevention;
Full Breakdown
Franklin County Code Chapter 11, Fire Prevention and Life Safety, applies to all unincorporated areas of the county (Sec. 11-23(c)) and is enforced by the Franklin County Fire Marshal and authorized representatives certified by the North Carolina Qualifications Board (Sec. 11-25). Section 11-24 lists the fire marshal's duties, including making fire prevention inspections of schools as required by G.S. Chapter 115C and of day care facilities as authorized by G.S. Chapter 110, alongside inspections of places of public gathering. The chapter adopts the North Carolina State Fire Code by reference (Sec.
11-26), and Section 11-27 authorizes the fire marshal to inspect buildings, structures and premises as often as necessary to find and correct conditions that could cause fire, explosion, or endanger life, with inspections that may be announced or unannounced and photographed or videotaped. When a violation is found, the fire marshal serves a written order under Section 11-35 stating the violation, penalty, correction deadline, and appeal period. Section 11-37 sets penalties: a criminal misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $500.00 under G.S. § 14-4, with each day a separate offense, plus a civil penalty under the Franklin County Fire Marshal Fee Schedule.
Appeals from an order go to the North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance within ten days of service, pursuant to G.S. § 160D-1127, with further appeal to the State Building Code Council or the courts.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with a fire marshal's order for a child care facility is a misdemeanor under Sec. 11-37(a), punishable by a fine up to $500.00 with each continuing day a separate offense, plus a civil penalty set by the Fire Marshal Fee Schedule under Sec. 11-37(b). Orders may also be enforced through injunctions, abatement, or other equitable remedies under G.S. § 153A-123. Appeals must be filed with the Commissioner of Insurance and the fire marshal within ten days of service (Sec. 11-37(c)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Franklin County inspect child care centers for fire safety?
What fire code applies to a child care center in unincorporated Franklin County?
What happens if a day care facility fails a fire inspection?
Can a child care operator appeal a fire marshal's violation order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin County
Compare Franklin County to another location·View the North Carolina building safety overview
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