Barrow County, GA Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

Sec. 26-155(c)(1) requires an operational smoke detector in every bedroom, outside each bedroom in its immediate vicinity, and on each story of the residential dwelling unit used as a short-term rental. The placement and mounting of each detector must comply with all requirements of the applicable adopted residential building code, and the detector must be maintained in good working order at all times, not merely when the permit is issued. The owner certifies compliance under oath on the annual permit application under Sec. 26-154(a)(5)e, and the Director of Planning and Community Development reviews that certification, along with any code violations reported by Code Enforcement or the Barrow County Fire Marshal, before issuing, denying, or renewing the permit under Sec.

26-154(a)(7)d. The smoke detector condition sits alongside the fire extinguisher, egress window, and carbon monoxide detector requirements in the same subsection, all enforced together as the rental's basic fire-safety package. Because the permit is annual and expires every December 31, the smoke detector condition is re-certified at every renewal rather than checked only once at initial licensing.