Georgia Code, Title 25, Chapter 2 - Regulation of Fire and Other Hazards to Persons and Property Generally

• § 25-2-1 - "Commissioner" Defined
  As used in this chapter, the term "Commissioner" means the Safety Fire Commissioner.Title NoteChapter Note
• § 25-2-2 - Safety Fire Commissioner -- Office Created
  The office of Safety Fire Commissioner is created. The Commissioner of Insurance shall be the Safety Fire Commissioner.
• § 25-2-3 - Safety Fire Commissioner -- Duties and Responsibilities Generally; Delegation of Powers
  Except as provided in Code Section 25-2-12, the Commissioner is charged with the duties and chief responsibility for the enforcement of this chapter. He...
• § 25-2-4 - Safety Fire Commissioner -- Adoption of Rules and Regulations
  The Commissioner shall adopt such rules and regulations as he deems necessary to promote the enforcement of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall...
• § 25-2-4.1 - Safety Fire Commissioner -- Fees and Charges
  (a) The Commissioner is authorized to assess and collect, and persons so assessed shall pay in advance to the Commissioner, fees and charges under...
• § 25-2-5 - State Fire Marshal -- Appointment; Qualifications; Salary
  The Commissioner shall appoint a state fire marshal. Qualifications for appointment as state fire marshal shall be previous training and experience in endeavors similar...
• § 25-2-6 - State Fire Marshal; Head of Safety Fire Division
  The Safety Fire Division of the office of the Commissioner of Insurance shall be headed by the state fire marshal appointed by the Commissioner.
• § 25-2-7 - Appointment Process of Deputy State Fire Marshal and Other Personnel
  The state fire marshal, subject to the approval of the Commissioner, shall appoint a deputy state fire marshal and administrative fire safety specialists and...
• § 25-2-8 - Payment of Transportation, Etc., Expenses of Employees in State Fire Marshal's Office
  All state employees connected with the state fire marshal's office shall be allowed subsistence, lodging, and other expenses in connection with the execution of...
• § 25-2-9 - Authority of Fire Marshal and Employees to Investigate Cause and Origin of Fires; Power to Arrest
  (a) Upon the request of the sheriff of the county, the chief of police of the jurisdiction, the district attorney of the judicial circuit,...
• § 25-2-10 - Appeal From Rulings of State Fire Marshal to Commissioner; Appeal From Commissioner to Superior Court; Bond
  Should any person, firm, corporation, or public entity be dissatisfied with any ruling or decision of the state fire marshal, the right is granted...
• § 25-2-11 - Local Inspections -- Duty of Cities and Counties Generally; Assistance of Cities and Counties by State Fire Marshal
  Reserved. Repealed by Ga. L. 1981, p. 1779, § 8, effective April 1, 1982.
• § 25-2-12 - Adoption of State Fire Safety Standards and Enforcement; Investigations; Excuse From Compliance With Standards; Interpretation of Standards and Granting Variances Therefrom by Commissioner
  (a)(1) The county governing authority in any county having a population of 100,000 or more, and the municipal governing authority in any municipality having...
• § 25-2-12.1 - Deputizing of Local Fire Marshals, Deputy Local Fire Marshals, and State Inspectors As State Officers; Qualification of Applicants; Duty to Notify State Fire Marshal of Employment Status Change; Removal
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Deputy local fire marshal" means any person who is employed by, supervised by, or...
• § 25-2-13 - (for Effective Date, See Note) Buildings Presenting Special Hazards to Persons or Property; Requirements; Effect of Rules, Regulations, and Fire Safety Standards Issued Before April 1, 1968; Power of Local Governing Authorities.
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Capacity" means the maximum number of persons who may be reasonably expected to be...
• § 25-2-14 - Buildings Presenting Special Hazards to Persons or Property -- Requirement and Issuance of Building Permits and Certificates of Occupancy; Fees; Employment of Private Professional Providers to Perform Building Plan Reviews
  (a) (1) Plans and specifications for all proposed buildings which come under classification in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 25-2-13 and...
• § 25-2-14.1 - Buildings Presenting Special Hazards to Persons or Property -- Compliance of Existing and Proposed Buildings and Structures With Minimum Fire Safety Standards
  (a) Every building and structure existing as of April 1, 1968, which building or structure is listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of...
• § 25-2-14.2 - Authority of State Fire Marshal or Other Officials to Deny Permit or Certificate of Occupancy, or Issue Stop-Work Order for Regulatory Noncompliance
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term "written notification" means a typed, printed, or handwritten notice citing the specific sections of the...
• § 25-2-15 - Buildings Presenting Special Hazards to Persons or Property -- Issuance of Temporary Occupancy Permits; Time Limits for Compliance With Chapter
  In existing buildings which come under the classification in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 25-2-13, when substandard conditions are found, a...
• § 25-2-16 - Regulation of the Storage, Transportation, and Handling of Hazardous Materials; Use of Hold-Open Latches At Self-Service Gasoline Stations; Plans for Bulk Storage Facilities
  (a) Some substances constitute a special hazard to property and to the life and safety of persons because of certain characteristics and properties incident...
• § 25-2-17 - Regulation of Explosives
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term "explosive" or "explosives" means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture which is commonly used or...
• § 25-2-18 - Exemption of Public Buildings From Fees or Licenses; Waiver for Churches and Charities
  All federal, state, county, or city publicly owned buildings covered by this chapter are exempt from any fee or license which may be specified...
• § 25-2-19 - Regulation of Fire Hazards in Hotels, Apartment Houses, Department Stores, Warehouses, and Public Places
  The Commissioner shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations governing and regulating fire hazards in hotels, apartment houses, department stores, warehouses, storage places, and places...
• § 25-2-20 - Licensing of Traveling Carnivals, Circuses, and Other Exhibits
  All traveling motion picture shows, carnivals, and circuses shall obtain a fire prevention regulatory license from the state fire marshal based upon compliance with...
• § 25-2-21 - Investigation on Complaint of Dangerous Building Appurtenances; Effect of Failure to Remove or Repair After Notice
  Reserved. Repealed by Ga. L. 1981, p. 1779, § 9, effective April 1, 1982.
• § 25-2-22 - Right of Commissioner and Other Authorized Officials to Enter and Inspect Buildings and Premises
  (a) The Commissioner and the various officials delegated by him to carry out this chapter shall have the authority at all times of the...
• § 25-2-22.1 - Inspection Warrants
  (a) The Commissioner, his delegate, or any other person authorized under this title to conduct inspections of property, in addition to other procedures now...
• § 25-2-23 - Issuance of Notice to Correct Unsafe Conditions
  When any of the officers listed in Code Section 25-2-22 finds any building or other structure which, for want of repair or by reason...
• § 25-2-24 - Filing of Petition for Court Order Compelling Compliance With Notice
  If any owner, agent, or occupant fails to comply with the notice prescribed in Code Section 25-2-23 within the time specified in the notice,...
• § 25-2-25 - Remedy of Unsafe Conditions by City or County Upon Failure to Comply With Court Order; Liability for Expenses Generally; Issuance of Fi. Fa. Against Owner of Property for Expense Incurred
  If any person fails to comply with the order of the court made pursuant to Code Section 25-2-24 within the time fixed, the city...
• § 25-2-26 - Final Authority for Ordering Enforcement of Code Sections 25-2-22 Through 25-2-25
  Code Sections 25-2-22 through 25-2-25 shall be construed so that the final authority for ordering the carrying out and enforcement of such Code sections...
• § 25-2-27 - Procedure for Investigation of Suspected Arson -- Taking of Testimony; Arrest of Suspect; Furnishing of Information to District Attorney
  The state fire marshal or his deputy, when in his opinion such proceedings are necessary, shall take the testimony on oath of all persons...
• § 25-2-28 - Procedure for Investigation of Suspected Arson -- Issuance of Subpoenas to Compel Attendance of Witnesses or Production of Documents; Administration of Oaths; Issuance of Court Order Compelling Compliance
  (a) The state fire marshal or the deputy state fire marshal shall have the power to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses before...
• § 25-2-29 - Hearing Procedure
  All hearings held by or under the direction of the Commissioner shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia...
• § 25-2-30 - Duty of State Fire Marshal As to Promotion of Fire Prevention and Life Safety Generally
  It shall be the duty of the state fire marshal to contact individuals, associations, and state agencies, both within and outside this state, which...
• § 25-2-31 - Dissemination of Fire Prevention Information by State Fire Marshal Generally; Fire Prevention Programs in Schools; Cooperation With State Fire Marshal by Local Authorities
  (a) The state fire marshal may promote any plan or program which tends to disseminate information on fire prevention and similar projects and may...
• § 25-2-32 - Maintenance of Records of Fire Losses; Reports of Losses by Insurance Companies; Reports of Fires
  (a) It shall be the duty of the state fire marshal to keep an up-to-date record of all fire losses, together with statistical data...
• § 25-2-32.1 - Reports to Safety Fire Division of Serious Burn Injuries
  Every case of a burn injury or wound where the victim sustained second-degree or third-degree burns to 5 percent or more of the body...
• § 25-2-32.2 - Investigation of Burn Injuries Reported Pursuant to Code Section 25-2-32.1
  Every county or municipal governing authority or any two or more governing authorities or the Safety Fire Division are authorized and empowered to take...
• § 25-2-33 - Release of Fire Loss Information by Insurers on Request by State or Local Official; Immunity for Furnishing of Information; Confidentiality of Information Received; Testimony by Officials in Action Against Insurer
  (a) The state fire marshal, any deputy designated by the state fire marshal, the director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation or the chief...
• § 25-2-33.1 - Reports of Arson and Suspected Arson to State Fire Marshal and Insurers; Notification of Payment of Claim As to Which Report Filed
  (a) The fire department of each county and municipality and any other organized fire department operating within this state shall report every incident or...
• § 25-2-34 - Cooperation With Commissioner, Deputies and Inspectors by Department of Public Safety and Georgia State Patrol
  The Department of Public Safety, the Georgia State Patrol, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation shall cooperate with the Commissioner and his deputies and...
• § 25-2-35 - Payment of Sheriffs and Other Peace Officers for Assistance in Determining Causes of Fires, Etc
  The Commissioner is authorized to pay sheriffs and other peace officers reasonable fees for assistance given in assembling evidence as to the causes or...
• § 25-2-36 - Remedies for Violations of Provisions of Chapter and Rules, Regulations, or Orders of Commissioner -- Injunctive Relief
  In addition to the civil monetary penalty provided for in Code Section 25-2-37, the Commissioner may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation...
• § 25-2-37 - Locking Exit Doors; Construction of Building Without Approval of Plans; Civil Penalties for Violation of Chapter or Rules
  (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to lock an exit door whether or not it is a required exit unless such provisions...
• § 25-2-38 - Remedies for Violations of Provisions of Chapter and Rules, Regulations, or Orders of Commissioner -- Criminal Penalty
  Any person, firm, or corporation violating this chapter or failing or refusing to comply with any regulation promulgated under this chapter shall be guilty...
• § 25-2-38.1 - Sovereign Immunity; Effect of This Chapter on Legal Duties of Property Owners and Lessees
  (a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to constitute a waiver of the sovereign immunity of the state, or any officer or employee...
• § 25-2-39 - Construction of Chapter
  It is declared that this chapter is necessary for the public safety, health, peace, and welfare, is remedial in nature, and shall be construed
• § 25-2-40 - Smoke Detectors Required in New Dwellings and Dwelling Units; Exceptions
  (a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (f) of this Code section, on and after July 1, 1987, every new dwelling and every new...

Last modified: October 14, 2016