Rockdale County, GA Building Safety: Fire Sprinkler Requirements (2026)

Rockdale County Code § 46-13, the fire protection sprinkler ordinance, requires hotels, motels, dormitories, lodging or rooming houses, residential board and care facilities, multifamily dwellings including townhomes and condominiums, educational occupancies, day care occupancies and health care facilities to install complete automatic sprinkler systems regardless of construction type. Any residential occupancy with more than two dwelling units, including townhouses and condominiums, must install a system meeting NFPA 13, 13R or 13D as approved by the local fire marshal. Townhouse systems may use NFPA 13D but must be modified for full coverage in attics and breezeways, and multifamily buildings up to three stories must likewise cover attics and breezeways.

Assembly occupancies need sprinklers if they exceed 5,000 square feet, hold 100 or more occupants, or sit on a floor other than the exit-discharge level. Vehicle service buildings of 6,000 square feet or more under one roof must be fully sprinkled unless bays are 600 square feet or smaller, in which case up to six heads on the domestic water supply are allowed with contractor calculations. Plans must show system design, the installer's Georgia license and hydraulic calculations before the Fire Marshal's Office stamps them reviewed, and owners must maintain and annually test systems under NFPA 25.