HB683: HB683 Buildings and housing; residential fire sprinkler requirements; provisions

Since 2010, Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 8-2-4) has barred the state residential and fire building code from requiring fire sprinklers in single-family homes or small residential buildings with no more than two units. This bill rewrites that Code section to keep the state-level ban in place but add language saying nothing in the law stops a political subdivision, meaning a city or county, from adopting its own local fire ordinance that requires sprinklers in one- and two-family dwellings. The bill's text also repeats language stating that no residential and fire building code adopted by a political subdivision after May 24, 2010 may require sprinklers in these small buildings, so the exact scope of what local governments can and cannot require is not entirely clear from the bill's wording. The bill would repeal any conflicting laws and does not list a separate effective date beyond the standard process for bills that become law.

• Rewrites O.C.G.A. § 8-2-4 to add a statement that local political subdivisions are not blocked from adopting a fire ordinance requiring sprinklers in one- and two-family dwellings.
• Keeps the existing rule that the statewide residential and fire building code cannot require fire sprinklers in single-family homes or buildings with two or fewer units.
• Retains language stating that no local residential and fire building code adopted after May 24, 2010 shall include a sprinkler requirement, alongside the new local-ordinance allowance.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this change.

The bill affects homebuilders and homebuyers, city and county governments that write local fire ordinances, local fire departments, and owners of single-family or two-unit residential buildings across Georgia.

If enacted, some Georgia cities or counties could require sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes even though the statewide code cannot, which could raise construction costs in those areas while leaving other jurisdictions unaffected. The overlapping language in the bill could also create confusion over what is actually required.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 8-2-4, keeping the ban on the state residential and fire building code requiring sprinklers in single-family or two-unit residential buildings.
• Section 1 adds text saying nothing in the Code section prevents a political subdivision from adopting a local fire sprinkler ordinance for one- and two-family dwellings.
• Section 1 also keeps language stating that no code adopted by a political subdivision after May 24, 2010 shall include a sprinkler requirement, which appears to conflict with the new local-ordinance allowance.
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the Act.

1. 2025-03-04House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-03House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-28House Hopper (House)

• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)Primary sponsor

• fire sprinklers
• building codes
• local government authority
• home construction
• fire safety