Allegany County, MD Building Safety: Fire Sprinkler Requirements (2026)

Section 255-1 lists the codes Allegany County adopts as its Building Code, including the 2006 International Building Code, the 2006 International Residential Code, the National Electric Code, the International Mechanical Code, the Maryland Accessibility Code, and, at subsection I, NFPA 13D, the standard for installing sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes. Section 255-2 makes any Building Code violation subject to the penalties in the codes adopted by reference or a fine of $1 to $1,000, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

Separately, Chapter 492, Article XI creates a Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler System Tax Credit authorized under § 9-232 of the Tax-Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, applicable in both incorporated and unincorporated Allegany County. Under § 492-29, an owner of residential real property is eligible for a county property tax credit if a complete automatic fire protection sprinkler system is installed in accordance with standards set by the Maryland State Fire Prevention Commission. Section 492-31 sets the credit at $1,000 per tax year for three tax years against the county property tax, assignable to a subsequent owner, and requires the owner to demonstrate the system meets the Fire Prevention Commission's standards.

Under § 492-32, the credit runs three tax years from the year following installation, and the program stopped accepting new applicants after June 30, 2020, though owners already receiving the credit continue collecting it for their remaining years.