The Board of County Commissioners for St. Marys County adopted an ordinance in November 2007 requiring the installation of residential "fire protection sprinklers" in all new one- and two-family residential units served by "public water."

The County Commissioners approved an ordinance on Aug. 5 allowing for a property tax credit for those not required to install residential "fire protection sprinklers." Citizens voluntarily retrofitting their existing homes or voluntarily installing a sprinkler system in a new home are eligible for a one-time property tax credit, per the August 5 ordinance.

Taxpayers may receive tax credit for the installation of a fire sprinkler system in a single family dwelling if the system is installed between Feb. 1 and Feb. 1, 2011. The amount of the tax credit for a new, single family dwelling is $1500 and the amount of the tax credit for homeowners retrofitting existing dwellings is $2000. The amount of either tax credit may not exceed the amount of the net County property tax paid by the qualifying taxpayer. For more information on applying for the tax credit, call Harry Knight at (301) 475-4200 ext. 1560. Maryland law requires sprinklers in all new multifamily houses and townhouses.

"Residential sprinkler systems save lives," said Thomas Mattingly, County Commissioner. "Increased use of sprinkler systems in other communities has resulted in saved lives of both firefighters and residents. I encourage our citizens to learn more about the value of sprinkler systems and seriously consider installing them in their current and next homes." For more information, log on to the US Fire Administrations website at www.usfa.dhs.gov.