International Fire Code
Georgia enforces the 2024 IFC as a statewide minimum
The 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) has been in force in Georgia since Jan 1, 2026. It applies as a statewide minimum; local codes may go further. Adopted by Georgia Board of Community Affairs; Safety Fire Commissioner for state fire safety standards. The legal citation is O.C.G.A. 8-2-23; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 110-11-1-.29; Rules of the Safety Fire Commissioner 120-3-3.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2024 IFC
International Fire Code, 2024 Edition
Partial
- In force since
- Legal citation
- O.C.G.A. 8-2-23; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 110-11-1-.29; Rules of the Safety Fire Commissioner 120-3-3
- Adopted by
- Georgia Board of Community Affairs; Safety Fire Commissioner for state fire safety standards
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide minimum; local codes may go further
- Also called
- Georgia State Minimum Fire Safety Standards (Rules 120-3-3)
DCA pages agree on 2024 IFC effective Jan 1, 2026, and a Dec 2025 rulemaking addresses the ‘edition of the IFC’.
Exceptions
- State Fire Marshal enforces separate fire safety standards (Chapter 120-3-3) including the Life Safety Code
How Georgia adopts the IFC
Dual track: DCA’s Board adopts the IFC as a state minimum standard code, and the Safety Fire Commissioner separately amends Chapter 120-3-3 by rulemaking (hearing, then adoption). No legislative approval step was found.
Cycle. Irregular; the 2018 edition was replaced by the 2024 edition for 2026.
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- LegislationHB 8122025-2026 regular session
Would have required State Codes Advisory Committee approval or denial of local amendments to the state minimum standard codes (locality could override), plus permit timelines.
Failed (last action House Withdrawn, Recommitted Mar 6, 2026, per secondary tracker)
policyrisk.com (opens in a new tab)
How it was checked
Partial
Researched in the state’s own record. The seal stays broken until the passage is on file word for word.
Read twice: a second, blind reading of the state’s record agreed with the first on .
The state’s record was last read on , from six source pages.
Evidence 6 sources
Sources for the record itself come first, the state’s own records ahead of others. A label marks a source about something else, such as an exception. A source marked secondary is not the state’s own record.
“2024 International Fire Code (IFC) with no GA Amendments”
Georgia IB Codes Info Sheet (January 1, 2026)Georgia Department of Community Affairsdca.georgia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved “International Fire Code, 2024 Edition”
Current State Minimum Codes for ConstructionGeorgia Department of Community Affairsdca.georgia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved “adopt the INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE, 2024 EDITION, without any Georgia Amendments”
Memo, Notice of Intent and Synopsis: 2024 International Fire CodeGeorgia Department of Community Affairsdca.georgia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved New Georgia Codes and Amendments - Effective January 1, 2026Georgia Department of Community Affairsdca.georgia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About how the state adopts codes
Hearing on New Rules and Regulations Scheduled for December 3, 2025Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fireoci.georgia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About another code
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 120-3-3-.04Cornell LII (mirror of Georgia Compilation of Rules and Regulations)law.cornell.edu (opens in a new tab)Administrative code, secondaryRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not Georgia’s own record.
ICC’s code adoption mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
State Georgia 24 24 24 24 24 24 15 15 24 24 24 X X (IFC taken as 3rd value; as of 2026-04)