Fire Prevention Code Enforcement

The Fire Prevention Code Program is led by the Fire Marshal. Fire Inspectors cover service areas below:

• All rural areas of Cumberland County
• Town limits of Linden, Wade, Godwin, Falcon and Stedman

The City of Fayetteville, Town of Hope Mills, and Town of Spring Lake provide fire code enforcement in their respective jurisdictions.

What is the state fire prevention code?

Uniformly enforced across the State, the Fire Prevention Code is a set of minimum mandatory fire safety standards that apply to all occupancies in North Carolina except for one- and two-family dwellings and occupancies located on a bonified farm. 

The Fire Code primarily regulates in new and existing buildings:

1. General Precautions Against Fire
2. Fire Protection Requirements
3. Electrical Safety
4. Exit and Egress Maintenance
5. Flammable and Liquid Safety
6. Other Specialized Operation Safety Requirements
    

How often will Cumberland County provide a fire inspection?

The Cumberland County Fire Marshal's Office will respond to any complaint made to our office. Otherwise, inspections of occupancies will be provided on the following schedule: 

Public Schools
Once Every Six (6) Months

Hazardous, Institutional, High Rise, Assembly, Common areas of residential
(1 and 2 family dwellings and townhouses exempt)
Once Every Year

Educational* and industrial *except public schools
Once Every Two (2) Years

Business, Mercantile, Storage, and Churches/Synagogues
Once Every Three (3) Years

Frequency rates for inspection of occupancies as mandated by the NC General Statutes shall supersede this schedule.

Who will provide these fire safety inspections?

All persons who enforce the State Fire Prevention Code are certified to do so by the North Carolina Code Official's Qualification Board. Fire Inspectors have extensive education and experience and are state certified Fire and Life Safety Educators.

How will the fire inspection program work?

• An inspector will call upon businesses within our service area.
• Upon arrival, the inspector will ask for the owner, manager, or safety officer.
• After greeting, the two will survey the exterior of the facility, then the interior.
• A systematic inspection will occur whereby code violations will be determined by the inspector.
• Each item will be thoroughly explained to the owner, manager or safety officer.
• Priority items will be identified.
• A reinspection date will then be set for the inspector to return.
• This reinspection date is to be scheduled within 30 days and mutually agreed upon by both parties.
• The owner/operator will sign the form and a copy will be left as a record of the inspection. 
• On or about the mutually agreed upon reinspection date, an inspector will return to see that all necessary corrections have been made.
• If corrections have not been properly abated, a second reinspection date will be set, if warranted.