Fire Marshal's Office

The Fire Marshal Division provides services to all unincorporated DeKalb County and Municipalities within DeKalb through formal Intergovernmental Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding. These services are delivered through four units in the Fire Marshal Division: Inspections, Public Education, Fire Investigations, and Plan Review.

The Fire Marshal Division is in the Community Risk Reduction Section and is paired with the Planning and Appraisal Unit. These relationships provide for a data-informed approach to fire and life safety programming.

DeKalb County, through OCGA Title 25, is charged with enforcing "Rules and Regulations for the State Minimum Fire Safety Standards" as adopted through the State Insurance Commissioner. The Fire Marshal is the authority having jurisdiction in these matters for unincorporated DeKalb County and for the cities of Avondale Estates, Chamblee, Clarkston, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, and Stonecrest.

120-3-3: GA R&R - GAC - Subject 120-3-3 RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE STATE MINIMUM FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS

The Fire Marshal's Office is responsible for conducting fire and life safety inspections of existing buildings and structures, reviewing plans and specifications for proposed buildings and structures, maintaining records, and responding to customer questions and concerns relating to fire hazards.

All permitting is facilitated through DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability, with municipal applications starting with a city routing sheet from the respective city. Once applications and plans are received by the Fire Marshal Division, review is on average completed within 10 business days.

For more information, contact us at dekalbfmo@dekalbcountyga.gov.

• Unincorporated DeKalb County: Submit plans directly to DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability
• Municipality in DeKalb County: Submit plans to the municipality; they will issue a city routing sheet, after which you can submit to DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability

Permit/Application: ePermitting | DeKalb County GA

• 2024 Life Safety Code (NFPA 101)
• 2018 International Fire Code
• 2018 International Building Code
• 2022 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems (NFPA 13)
• 2022 Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72)
• State Amendments: 120-3-3 GA R&R - GAC
• DeKalb County Ordinances:
  • Chapter 12 – Fire Prevention and Protection
  • Chapter 18 – Section 18-138 (Special provisions for hotel and motel sprinkler ordinance)
• Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems (ERCES)
• IFC Emergency Responder Radio Coverage (510) [By local ordinance]
• NFPA 1225, Standard for Emergency Services Communications [By State Statute]