Smoke Detectors: Lawrenceville vs Snellville

Where am I required to install smoke detectors in my Lawrenceville home?

Under O.C.G.A. 25-2-40 as adopted through Lawrenceville Section 22-1 and Gwinnett County Chapter 42, you need a working smoke alarm on every story of the dwelling, including any basement (but not uninhabitable attics), inside each sleeping room, and outside each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms. Homes built on or after July 1, 1987 must use approved listed detectors installed per manufacturer instructions.

Do I need hardwired smoke alarms in an older Lawrenceville house?

Not necessarily. O.C.G.A. 25-2-40 allows approved battery-operated smoke detectors in dwellings built before July 1, 1987, as long as they are installed and maintained in good working order. New construction permitted under the 2018 International Fire Code (adopted by Gwinnett County and Lawrenceville) requires hardwired alarms with battery backup and interconnection between units. Confirm a remodel's threshold with the Gwinnett County Fire Marshal at 678-518-4980.

Where do I have to install smoke detectors in my Snellville home?

Under O.C.G.A. 25-2-40, a smoke detector must be mounted on the ceiling or wall in the corridor or area giving access to each group of rooms used for sleeping, and on every story including cellars and basements (not uninhabitable attics). Homes built on or after July 1, 1987 require an approved listed detector per the manufacturer's instructions; homes built before that date have required at least a battery-operated detector since July 1, 1994. New construction follows IRC R314 and needs interconnected AC-powered alarms with battery backup in each bedroom and in the hallway outside bedrooms.

Does Snellville have its own smoke alarm ordinance beyond Georgia state law?

No. Snellville does not maintain a separate smoke detector ordinance; the city follows O.C.G.A. 25-2-40 and the Georgia State Minimum Standard Building and Fire Codes. Inspections and enforcement in Snellville are handled by the Gwinnett County Fire Marshal's office at 678-518-4980 or firemarshal@gwinnettcounty.com. Short-term rental operators must verify code and life-safety compliance — including working smoke detectors — as part of the city STR application under Ord. 2019-15.