Who enforces each one, what edition applies, and what changes next. 8 of 8 areas verified on primary sources. OSHA state plan: Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH), Division of Labor and Industry.
| Area | In force | Authority | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, both 2024 editions, with Maryland amendments (COMAR 29.06.01), effective Jun 23, 2025State Fire Prevention Code applies statewide to new and existing buildings. Errata #1 (Jul 15, 2025) corrected door, egress, daycare and NFPA 150 references. Local jurisdictions may add stricter rules. SourceVerified on the source | State Fire Marshal and local (county/municipal) fire officials jointly enforce; State Fire Prevention Commission adopts the code | In forceIn force since Jun 23, 2025 (2024 editions); no newer edition adopted |
| Building | 2021 International Building Code with Maryland amendments (COMAR 09.12.51, Maryland Building Performance Standards), effective May 29, 2023Also adopts 2021 IRC and 2021 IECC. Maryland substitutes its own Accessibility Code for IBC Ch.11, bars weakening residential sprinkler rules, and requires hotel guest-room energy shutoff controls. SourceVerified on the source | Local jurisdictions enforce; Dept of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry (Building Codes Administration) administers the standard | In forceNo newer IBC edition adopted statewide as of Sep 2026 (2024 IBC not yet adopted) |
| Elevators | ASME A17.1-2022/CSA B44:22 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (COMAR 09.12.81); older units stay on the edition in force at contract signingDivision of Labor and Industry licenses and inspects; owners re-register units annually, timed to a periodic annual inspection. No separate statewide ASME A17.3 (existing units) adoption found. SourceVerified on the source | Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry, Safety Inspection (Elevator Unit) | In forceIn force; no pending amendment found |
| Boilers | Maryland Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act (Public Safety Art. Title 12, Subtitle 9) and COMAR 09.12.01 (Board of Boiler Rules)Power and high-pressure water boilers get annual certificate and external inspections (extendable to 2 years with continuous water treatment); other boilers/vessels follow COMAR-set intervals by type and age. SourceVerified on the source | Division of Labor and Industry, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Inspection Unit; insurer-employed special inspectors also qualify | In forceIn force; no pending amendment found |
| Pools | COMAR 10.17.01 (Public Swimming Pools and Spas, operations) and COMAR 9.12.56 (Maryland Swimming Pool and Spa Standards, plan review), latter effective Jan 1, 2024Dept of Health sets design/construction and operating standards, including AED rules (COMAR 10.17.02); local health departments license, inspect and enforce. Some jurisdictions now handle plan review directly. SourceVerified on the source | Maryland Department of Health (standards); local health departments (licensing and inspection) | In forceIn force since Jan 1, 2024 (plan-review standard); no newer amendment found |
| Lodging | No statewide hotel license found (local jurisdictions permit hotels/motels); statewide safety mandate: guest-room carbon monoxide alarms, Public Safety Art. Section 12-1104(b), effective Apr 1, 2017CO alarms required inside guest rooms with, or adjacent to, CO-emitting equipment or an attached garage; a centralized alarm audible within 25 ft of the source is an allowed alternative. SourceVerified on the source | Local jurisdictions license/inspect hotels; State Fire Marshal enforces the fire code in lodging occupancies; the CO-alarm statute is self-executing | In forceIn force since Apr 1, 2017; no pending statewide lodging mandate found |
| Workplace | OSHA-approved State Plan: Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH), within the Dept of Labor's Division of Labor and IndustryCovers private-sector employers, including hotels, with limited federal carve-outs (maritime, military bases, some federal contractors, aircraft cabin crew); also covers state and local government employees. SourceVerified on the source | Maryland Department of Labor, MOSH, under the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Act | In force |
| Retrofit | HB149/Ch.422 (2026): automatic sprinklers plus NFPA life-safety features required in substantially renovated residential high-rises, for renovation permits issued on/after Oct 1, 2026Applies to residential/rental high-rises over 75 ft when renovation cost is at least 40% of assessed value; hotels are not covered. No statewide structural-recertification or ERRCS retrofit law found. SourceVerified on the source | Office of the State Fire Marshal, with local fire officials and assistant State fire marshals | Retrofit trigger Oct 1, 2026Oct 1, 2026: sprinkler/life-safety retrofit trigger takes effect for qualifying renovation permits |
NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, both 2024 editions, with Maryland amendments (COMAR 29.06.01), effective Jun 23, 2025. State Fire Prevention Code applies statewide to new and existing buildings. Errata #1 (Jul 15, 2025) corrected door, egress, daycare and NFPA 150 references. Local jurisdictions may add stricter rules. Enforced by: State Fire Marshal and local (county/municipal) fire officials jointly enforce; State Fire Prevention Commission adopts the code.
2021 International Building Code with Maryland amendments (COMAR 09.12.51, Maryland Building Performance Standards), effective May 29, 2023. Also adopts 2021 IRC and 2021 IECC. Maryland substitutes its own Accessibility Code for IBC Ch.11, bars weakening residential sprinkler rules, and requires hotel guest-room energy shutoff controls. Enforced by: Local jurisdictions enforce; Dept of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry (Building Codes Administration) administers the standard.
Elevators: Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry, Safety Inspection (Elevator Unit) (ASME A17.1-2022/CSA B44:22 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (COMAR 09.12.81); older units stay on the edition in force at contract signing). Boilers: Division of Labor and Industry, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Inspection Unit; insurer-employed special inspectors also qualify (Maryland Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act (Public Safety Art. Title 12, Subtitle 9) and COMAR 09.12.01 (Board of Boiler Rules)).
Maryland runs an OSHA-approved state plan: Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH), Division of Labor and Industry. The state agency enforces workplace safety rules for most private employers.
Retrofit/Recertification: Retrofit trigger Oct 1, 2026 (Oct 1, 2026: sprinkler/life-safety retrofit trigger takes effect for qualifying renovation permits); Oct 1, 2026: HB149/Ch.422 sprinkler and life-safety retrofit trigger takes effect for substantially renovated residential high-rises (permit-triggered, not a blanket mandate; hotels excluded); Jan 13, 2027: 2027 regular session of the Maryland General Assembly convenes in Annapolis (through Apr 12, 2027) - watch for fire, building-code, elevator, boiler and pool bills.
One address, every authority that can cite it, and a record of who saw what. Cancel anytime. Public pages stay free.