MoCo Government

County Executive Elrich Signs Tenant Fire Safety & Notification Bill into Law, Strengthening Protections for Renters

By Patrick Herron
Courtesy @montCoExec on Twitter/X

On Thursday, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich held a bill signing ceremony in Rockville for Bill-7-24, the Tenant Fire Safety & Notification Bill, which strengthens tenant protections and ensures safer living conditions.

Per Montgomery County: “On Tuesday, July 16, the County Council passed legislation that strengthens tenant protections and requires landlords to notify tenants of fire safety, insurance and building maintenance issues. Authored and introduced by Council Vice President Kate Stewart, Bill 7-24, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Tenant Protection and Notification, will better protect tenants and inform them of building matters pertaining to their health, safety and economic security.

Council Vice President Stewart was inspired to write the bill after a fire took the life of Melanie Diaz at the Arrive apartment building in Silver Spring in Dec. 2023, and a power outage not long after that put many older adult residents at risk at The Grand in North Bethesda.

Apartment building residents may encounter a variety of emergency situations, including fires, power outages, water outages and evacuations. Renters may also experience instances of building management lacking prevention plans or plans to inform residents of the incidents and what necessary precautions residents should take. The new law protects tenants by requiring building managers to communicate information clearly and rapidly to tenants during emergencies.

Bill 7-24 requires the following:

  • Residential leases must clearly state whether the building has automatic sprinkler systems, inform tenants of emergency plans and details whether the lease insures tenant possessions in the event of loss or damage due to instances such as fire, smoke or water.
  • Twenty-four-hour availability of a building representative and notification to tenants of any disruption of essential services.
  • Emergency safety plans for each building, proposed by landlords of multifamily dwellings, to be approved by the County’s Department of Permitting Services.

The bill is cosponsored by Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Sidney Katz, Kristin Mink, Gabe Albornoz, Will Jawando, Evan Glass and Council President Andrew Friedson.”