This information may be helpful to you when you buy a home in the City of Orangeburg’s fire district.
To ensure fire protection, any individual, association, corporation, organization, leaser, or tenant owning, occupying, using or having any interest in property within a five mile radius outside the City limits should have a fire contract with the City of Orangeburg. In City business owners and residences are excluded, as contract fees are included in their City taxes. Many homeowners’ and businesses’ require a contract to ensure lower insurance rates. The City of Orangeburg has a Class 4 rating. Fire contracts run from March 1 until February 28 of every year. The cost of a contract is determined by the total square footage of the home. If a contract is not purchased on a home and there is a fire, when the Department of Public Safety (DPS) responds, there will be a $1,565.00 penalty plus the cost of the contract imposed. DPS will not release the fire report until the penalty is paid. If you are unsure whether a property is located in our fire service district, you can contact DPS at (803) 533-6046.
If you sell a home, the previous owner may already have a valid contract on the home. At closing, the new owner can go to DPS and update this information. If the seller does not have a valid contract on the home, the new owner can purchase one at the Department of Public Safety Headquarters at 1320 Middleton St.
If the home is new construction, the contractor will be informed by the inspector that a fire contract can be purchased during the time of construction; therefore, after the home is completed and sold, the new owner can update the contract and all other information. If a contract was never purchased, a new contract can still be obtained from The Department of Public Safety at 1320 Middleton St.
Commercial buildings are also in need of a fire contract; however, if there is no contract on the building and the Department of Public Safety responds to a fire call, the fine is $1,565.00 plus the cost of the contract and any additional charges that we may incur.
If you have any questions regarding fire contracts, rates, or inspections, please contact the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at (803) 533-6046.
For a current list of 2009 rates and regulations:
CLICK HERE