Committee forwards emergency safety‑plan regulation for multifamily buildings after fire‑safety briefing

The Planning, Housing and Parks Committee voted Feb. 11 to forward Executive Regulation 21‑25 to the full Montgomery County Council. The regulation, implementing provisions of Bill 7‑24 (approved July 2024), requires landlords of multifamily rental housing to prepare and submit emergency fire safety plans to the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) for review and approval.

Council staff explained the regulation’s core requirements: plans must be submitted and then resubmitted every three years; approved plans should be incorporated into lease materials for prospective tenants; DPS will analyze alarm and call data and may require an addendum for properties that receive 10 or more fire calls in a rolling 12‑month period to explain how the landlord will mitigate calls or repair malfunctioning systems; and the regulation establishes a $95 review fee per filing.

Council Member Stewart, who shepherded the legislation, framed the regulation as an outgrowth of community concern and post‑incident reviews following a fatal building fire. “When literally seconds matter to save lives, making sure that there is a solid fire safety plan in place that residents know about is so critical,” Stewart said.

Paty Warick, Montgomery County fire marshal, told the committee DPS has published a user guide and online template and plans to integrate plan submissions into the county’s existing e‑plans and Fire Code Compliance permit workflows. DPS said it has piloted reviews, that a small number of landlords have already submitted plans, and that the agency is prepared to begin formal review.

“Users are already submitting their permits online and some have already even submitted their emergency safety plans for review,” Warick said, adding that reviewers will work with landlords to remedy deficiencies rather than reject plans outright.

DPS acknowledged the regulation will increase review workload and said additional FTEs will be needed to process submissions and align periodic inspections with the three‑year plan cycle. Inspections tied to code compliance remain free; fees cover DPS plan review costs.

The committee recorded support as a unanimous technical approval (voice/hand, "three nothing") and directed staff to forward ER‑21‑25 to the full council with appreciation for DHS, DPS and the Diaz family (whose advocacy followed a high‑profile fire) for their work on safety improvements.

What’s next: the regulation will be transmitted to the full county council for formal adoption. DPS said its online tools and templates are live and that the department is ready to begin review when an adoption schedule is set.

Sources: Committee staff presentation on ER‑21‑25; remarks by Council Member Stewart and Paty Warick (DPS).