Lexington County, SC Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 14-352(9), County Code
- When tested
- During final inspection
- Also tested
- CO alarms, GFCI/AFCI devices
- Adopting ordinance
- Ord. No. 20-01, Art. 9
Summary
Lexington County requires smoke detectors to be tested during the final building inspection before any new structure can be occupied.
(9) Final inspection. Final inspection shall be made after the permitted work is complete and prior to occupancy. All utilities must be connected an all systems in operation prior to requesting a final inspection. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as electrical GFCI and AFCI devices, must be tested during final inspection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Under the county's adopted building code (Ord. No. 20-01), the building official's final inspection, required after all permitted work is complete and before occupancy, must include testing of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms along with electrical GFCI and AFCI devices. No final approval, and therefore no legal occupancy, can be granted until these life-safety devices test as functional. The requirement sits inside the county's broader adoption of the International Residential and Building Codes, which set the underlying installation and location standards for the detectors themselves.
Violations & Fines
Occupancy cannot legally proceed until the final inspection, including a smoke detector test, is passed; the building official can withhold final approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Lexington County check my smoke alarms?
What else gets tested at the same inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington County
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