Maryland Law Mandates Fire Sprinklers in High-Rise Renovations Oct. 1
DPSJul 1, 2026
A new Maryland state law (House Bill 149) takes effect October 1, 2026, requiring automatic fire sprinkler retrofits and other life-safety upgrades when a residential rental high-rise undergoes substantial renovation. A high-rise is defined as a building with an occupiable story floor more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department access. Substantial renovation is defined as permanent alterations costing at least 40 percent of the building's assessed value as determined by SDAT.
Was this useful?
Change response
Source: Montgomery County, MD, “Constructive Comments — July 2026”, received Jul 1, 2026.
See a mistake? Content and links are AI-processed from public county emails. If something is wrong or a source is missing, email corrections or read how we handle them.