How Do Baltimore City and County Approve Fire Protection?

Baltimore City approves fire protection work through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) ePlans system, where the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) Office of the Fire Marshal reviews the plans against the City’s own fire code, the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC), while Baltimore County issues a sprinkler permit and a separate electrical permit for commercial fire alarm systems through its Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI) and enforces a county fire code built on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1 and NFPA 101 (2024). Both jurisdictions build to the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) as of November 2026.

The two Baltimores share a name and a building code, and little else on the fire side. This article sets out what each one has adopted, how each differs from the Maryland state baseline, who reviews the plans, how to file, and what review times and inspections each publishes. The statewide picture, including counties where the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) does the review, is covered in DGA’s article on how fire protection plan review works in Maryland.

What Baltimore City and Baltimore County Each Require

Baltimore City adopts its codes as one book, the Building, Fire, and Related Codes of Baltimore City (2024 Edition), enacted by Ordinance 24-341 and effective May 22, 2024. Part I takes in the Maryland Building Performance Standards (MBPS) with their 2021 IBC basis, and Part II carries the 2021 IBC with City modifications. Part VIII, Section 8-101, adopts the 2021 IFC, and Section 101.1 of that Part names it the Baltimore City Fire Code.

The City fire code keeps IFC Appendix B (fire flow) and does not adopt Appendix C (hydrant locations) or Appendix D (fire apparatus access roads), under Sections 101.2.1 and 101.2.2. Its Chapter 80 referenced standards are adopted as in the IFC. Section 105.1.1 requires permits under the code to come from the fire code official, as listed in the code or in the Fire Prevention Permit Schedule.

Baltimore County keeps its building and fire codes separate. PAI’s code list, revised October 4, 2026, shows the 2021 IBC and International Residential Code (IRC) adopted and amended by Bill 49-24, effective September 3, 2024. Bill 73-26, effective October 4, 2026, adopts NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (2024) and other NFPA codes and standards as the Baltimore County Fire Prevention Code, which the Fire Marshal’s Office describes as closely paralleling the Maryland Fire Prevention Code.

How Baltimore Differs From the Maryland State Baseline

The state baseline has two parts. The MBPS, Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 09.12.51, adopt the 2021 IBC, and a county or city may amend them locally (COMAR 09.12.51.05). The State Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), COMAR 29.06.01, adopts NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 (2024), effective June 23, 2025.

Baltimore City sits outside the second half. Under COMAR 29.06.01.03, the SFPC does not apply in Baltimore City except to buildings and conditions covered by Public Safety Article Title 6, Subtitle 4. That exclusion is why the City can run the IFC as its fire code while every Maryland county works from NFPA 1 and NFPA 101. DGA’s article on how Maryland’s building code and NFPA 1 and 101 divide the work covers the two-code arrangement that applies in the counties.

Baltimore County follows the state pattern and matches the state fire code edition. Under Public Safety Article 6-206, the SFPC is the minimum in every county, and a stricter local law controls where it is consistent with the SFPC. The table shows where each Baltimore jurisdiction departs from the model codes.

The FLSDE is the City’s largest departure. Fire Code Section 104.8.2.4 requires one for new high-rise buildings and high-rise changes of use or Level III alterations, Group A buildings with an occupant load of 1,000 or more, Group H, Groups I-2 and I-3, all new Group R-1 and R-2 buildings, and any project the fire code official calls for. Under Section 104.8.2.2, the preparer holds either a fire protection engineering degree with a model code plan review certification and 2 years of experience, or the certification with 5 years.

Who Reviews Fire Protection Plans in Each Jurisdiction

In Baltimore City, DHCD runs the permit and the BCFD Office of the Fire Marshal, through its Plan Review Division, reviews the fire protection content. BCFD lists the work that needs its review: fire alarm and sprinkler installation or modification, new buildings, renovations and tenant fit-outs, changes of use, standpipes, fire pumps, kitchen hood suppression, smoke control, emergency generators, hazardous materials and emergency responder communication coverage.

BCFD also accepts third-party review for listed scopes. A BCFD-approved reviewer who is a Maryland registered fire protection engineer or a technician certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) at Level IV may review additions or relocations of 20 or fewer fire alarm devices or 50 or fewer sprinkler heads on an existing approved system, new or modified kitchen suppression, and FLSDE projects. BCFD keeps final review and approval, and major changes during construction go back to both the reviewer and BCFD.

In Baltimore County, PAI’s Building Plans Review reviews new building plans and permits against the county building, fire and related codes. The Baltimore County Fire Marshal’s Office, part of the Baltimore County Fire Department, enforces the county fire code and inspects new and renovated buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings. Prince George’s County makes third-party review mandatory for fire protection shop drawings; DGA’s article on how Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties approve fire plans compares that model.

OSFM lists jurisdictional contacts for both Baltimore City and Baltimore County and states that it is responsible for all State-owned property, so a State-owned building in either jurisdiction also involves the State Fire Marshal. Where OSFM’s Engineering Services Section does review a project, its fees are set by COMAR 29.06.04.

Figure 1: Baltimore City vs Baltimore County

Topic	Baltimore City	Baltimore County
Building code	2021 IBC, Part II, Ordinance 24-341	2021 IBC, Bill 49-24, effective September 3, 2024
Fire code	2021 IFC as the Baltimore City Fire Code, Part VIII	NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 (2024), Bill 73-26, effective October 4, 2026
Permit office	DHCD	PAI
Fire protection reviewer	BCFD Office of the Fire Marshal, Plan Review Division	PAI plans review; Fire Marshal’s Office inspects
Portal	DHCD ePlans	PAI online permit portal
Sprinkler drawing preparer	Not stated on BCFD’s plan review page; third-party reviewers must be Maryland registered fire protection engineers or NICET Level IV	Registered fire protection engineer or NICET Level III or higher, with hydraulic calculations
Third-party option	Small changes to existing systems, kitchen suppression, FLSDE	None published
Published review time	10 to 25 business days initial; 5 to 10 resubmission	None published

DGA prepares fire protection code analyses, sealed drawings and permit packages for city, county and State Fire Marshal review across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. Project briefs get confirmation and preliminary code feedback within one business day. See where DGA works →

How to File Fire Protection Work in Baltimore City and Baltimore County

Baltimore City filings are electronic only, in DHCD’s ePlans system. The applicant registers, uploads complete construction documents, system drawings and specifications, pays the plan review fees, and tracks comments in the ePlans dashboard. After approval the applicant pays the permit fees and receives the stamped, approved set through ePlans.

An expedited third-party filing adds steps at the front. The applicant asks the BCFD Fire Prevention Office for authorization, engages an approved reviewer, and files with DHCD with “Expedited Third-Party Plan Review” stated in the permit description. A fire protection system filing carries the Third-Party Plan Review Certification Letter, the Fire Protection Submittal Form and the stamped system plans; an FLSDE filing carries the FLSDE report and stamped plans.

Figure 2: Baltimore City: From ePlans to Use and Occupancy

1. File in ePlansConstruction documents, system drawings and specifications uploaded to DHCD ePlans; plan review fees paid

2. BCFD reviewInitial review 10 to 25 business days; about 7 business days after the DHCD referral on an expedited third-party filing

3. ResubmissionCorrections reviewed in 5 to 10 business days; FLSDE resubmissions within 7 business days

4. PermitPermit fees paid; stamped, approved set issued through ePlans

5. BCFD inspectionsAll fire protection system inspections completed before the use and occupancy inspection

Baltimore County filings start in PAI’s online permit portal, where all construction permit applications are made. PAI requires a permit for every sprinkler system, filed as a Commercial or Residential Sprinklers Permit, and PAI’s Electrical Inspections alarm installations page states that any commercial fire alarm system needs a separate electrical permit. Sprinkler plans must be prepared under the supervision of a registered fire protection engineer or a NICET Level III or higher technician, include hydraulic calculations to NFPA 13, 13R or 13D, and follow PAI’s file naming rules.

A structural engineer’s certificate showing the added load of water-filled piping is required for sprinkler systems with pipe of 2½ in. or larger. Once fees are paid, PAI sends the application to every reviewing department for technical review and issues the permit when all reviews are approved. The approved plans carry the County Plans Review Office stamp and signature, and its comment letters form part of the approved set.

Figure 3: Baltimore County: From Portal Application to Use and Occupancy

1. Apply onlineCommercial or Residential Sprinklers Permit in PAI’s portal; plans, hydraulic calculations and file names per County rules

2. Structural certificateRequired where sprinkler pipe is 2½ in. or larger

3. Fees and technical reviewApplication fee calculated and paid, then sent to every reviewing department

4. Permit and stamped plansApplicant notified by e-mail when the permit issues; County Plans Review Office stamp and comment letters on site

5. Fire Marshal inspectionsRequested at least 3 working days ahead; fire code compliance before use and occupancy

Review Times, Inspections and Enforcement in Each Jurisdiction

As of November 2026, BCFD’s plan review page states an initial review of 10 to 25 business days, varying with project size and scope, and 5 to 10 business days for resubmissions. Expedited review must be requested in advance and is subject to availability. On a third-party filing, BCFD states approval within about 7 business days of the DHCD referral, and an initial FLSDE review within about 15 business days.

Baltimore County PAI’s sprinkler permit and Building Plans Review pages state no review period. The BCFD figures cover plan review only, not a whole project; DGA’s fire protection project Timeline Estimator gives a schedule from design to closeout.

In Baltimore City, every BCFD inspection of a fire protection system must be complete before the use and occupancy inspection. Section 105.3.9 of the City fire code makes a breach of any permit condition a violation subject to the penalties in Section 110.

In Baltimore County, the Fire Marshal’s Office inspects and witnesses tests of sprinkler systems, underground fire service mains, fire suppression water tanks, kitchen hood suppression, fire pumps and standpipes. The permit holder requests inspections by phone at least 3 working days ahead, and use and occupancy inspections are scheduled automatically as part of the permit process. Approved plans and comment letters must be on site, and a deviation from the approved plans without a revised approval needs the Fire Marshal’s consent.

On the sprinkler standard, the two jurisdictions mostly agree. In Maryland, the county building permit reviews sprinklers to NFPA 13 (2019) through the 2021 IBC, while the State Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1, 2024) references NFPA 13 (2022). Baltimore City reaches NFPA 13 (2019) through both the 2021 IBC and the 2021 IFC, and Baltimore County’s Bill 73-26 adopts NFPA 1 (2024) as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

This article is general information, not a code determination for any project. Code editions, local ordinances and reviewer practice change; confirm the adopted code, the reviewing office and the permit path for the project with Baltimore City or Baltimore County.