Pet Doors and Fire Safety: What Home Sellers Need to Know

If you’re selling your home, don’t blame the home inspector when they “call out” a pet door that leads directly into your garage. While it might seem harmless or convenient for your furry friend, this is actually a serious safety issue — and one that most inspectors are required to note in their reports.
A garage is considered a separate fire zone from the main living area. Building codes require a fire-resistant barrier (usually drywall rated for fire resistance) between the two spaces. This helps slow the spread of flames and toxic fumes in the event of a garage fire.
When a pet door is installed through that wall or more often the door, it creates a hole in that barrier, completely defeating its purpose. Even small openings allow fire and smoke to enter the home much faster, putting lives and property at risk.
🟠 Tip: If you really need pet access between the home and garage, look for a fire-rated pet door — these are specially designed and tested to maintain the integrity of the fire barrier.
🟠 Tip: Before listing your home, have a qualified contractor patch or replace any pet doors in garage walls or doors that separate living space from the garage.
At Trace Inspections, we often see this issue during pre-listing and buyer inspections. Fixing it ahead of time helps your home show better, reduces repair requests, and demonstrates that you’ve taken proper care of safety details.

Trace Inspections
Professional Home Inspections, Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin and Throughout Middle Tennessee
📞 615-302-1113
🌐 www.traceinspections.com