Fire Marshal Office

About the Fire Marshal's Office

The City of Dalton Fire Marshal's Office is staffed by 3 full-time inspectors. The division is led by the Division-Coordinator-Fire Marshal.

Title 25, Chapter 2, of the Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) allows the Safety Fire Commissioner of Georgia to adopt rules and regulations to promote fire safety. The primary task of the Fire Marshal's Office (FMO) is enforcing these "Rules and Regulations for the State Minimum Fire Safety Standards" as adopted by the State Fire Commissioner.

These rules and regulations are adopted under Chapter 120-3-3 " Rules and Regulations for the State Minimum Fire Safety Standards". Other 120 rules are also adopted for specific areas of fire safety code adoption and enforcement. Certain National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and the International Fire Code are adopted under these 120 rules. According to 25-2-4 O.C.G.A., these codes have the "force and effect of law".

For local enforcement purposes, The City of Dalton adopts these state minimum standards by reference in Code of Ordinances City of Dalton 54.31. The FMO also enforces local fire protection ordinances found in Chapter 54 of Code of Ordinances, City of Dalton.

Responsibilities

Based on Title 25, Chapter 2 O.C.G.A., the FMO has three main responsibilities:

1. Conduct fire and life safety inspections of existing buildings and structures.

2. Review plans and specifications for proposed buildings and structures, issue joint building permits with the county building departments when plans are approved, and conduct fire and life safety inspections of such building s and structures. 

3. Issue Certificates of Occupancy when all appropriate inspections have been approved.

The City of Dalton Fire Marshal's Office utilizes adopted codes and ordinances to ensure:

1. Recognized and potential fire and life safety hazards are identified and mitigated. 

2. Reliable egress for occupants from structures. 

3. Fire protection and life safety systems are installed and maintained to operate in an effective manner. 

4. Buildings are accessible and "user-friendly" to help responding fire crews quickly mitigate any fire or life safety emergency.