Fire Safety Instructions - Emergency Safety Plan

Each landlord of a multifamily dwelling must submit a proposed emergency safety plan on a form prescribed by the Director. Condominiums are not required to submit emergency safety plans but may submit them for review and approval.

A landlord is required to update the contents of the plan and obtain a new approval from the Department to remain in compliance with this Section every three years, or when the contents change, whichever is sooner. Changes to the plan must be submitted to the Department for review within 14 calendar days of any changes to the plan’s scope and contents.

an evacuation map;

the location of fire extinguishers;

the type of fire alarm system installed;

a point of contact or the type of communication that will be used by the landlord during and after the emergency;

details regarding alternate housing when a tenant is displaced due to the building emergency; and

fire protection system impairment procedures.

Emergency safety plans must be submitted as a required document for review and approval as part of the building’s Fire Code Compliance Permit in accordance with Section 22-10 beginning September 1, 2025.

The emergency safety plan must comply with the emergency safety plan form and best practices documents developed by the Department.

Emergency safety plans must be submitted and maintained electronically.

The Department is authorized to review and evaluate each emergency safety plan submitted by a landlord of a multifamily rental building in accordance with Sec. 22-74 of the County Code. The Department will either approve or deny each emergency safety plan.

Plans will be reviewed and evaluated by the Department based on the completeness and compliance with the emergency safety plan form, which includes context pertinent to the evacuation plan of the physical building, activities surrounding evacuation such as emergency services notification and relocation of occupants, and any provisions taken based on the capabilities of occupants that may have additional needs.

An emergency safety plan will only be approved if the Department finds that the contents of the plan are satisfactory to maintain the health, safety, and welfare of all tenants and individuals properly on the premises of multifamily rental housing.

If a multifamily apartment building has ten or more calls for service for fire-related emergencies within a 12-month period, the Director will require the property owner to submit an addendum to the emergency safety plan.

Fire-related emergency service calls include activation of the building automatic fire alarm sent to a listed central station reported to the fire department, activation of the automatic sprinkler system including dry-system activations, and public calls to 9-1-1 indicating an observed fire emergency.

The plan addendum must be submitted on the emergency safety plan addendum template, available from the Department.

Addendums may be discontinued at the discretion of the Director based on a sustained reduction in calls for service to the affected building for a period of at least 12 months.

efforts to hire security guards or additional building personnel if the building is experiencing malicious alarms;

repair or replace faulty alarm systems:

facilitate opportunities for the County to provide outreach and educational resources to residents regarding fire safety;

contract with a vendor to provide outreach and educational resources to residents regarding fire safety and prevention of false alarms; or

other fire alarm reduction strategies as determined by the Director, in consultation with MCFRS.

The Department may charge a fee for the review or re-review of the emergency safety plan or the addendum.

The charge for review or re-review of emergency safety plans and addendums is $95 per review. Fees must be paid in full prior to the approval of the annual Fire Code Compliance permit.

The Department must calculate and charge an enterprise fund stabilization factor (EFSF) in accordance with COMCOR 22.00.03.08.

The Department may issue a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the landlord for:

If the NOV is not resolved within 30 days of issuance by the Department, a civil citation may be issued by the Director, or the Director’s designee, to the landlord or the landlord’s designee for every 30 days of non-compliance.

Failure to pay required review fees prior to the expiration date of the Fire Code Compliance permit may result in the civil citation being sent the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office Debt Collection Unit.