Smoke Detectors: Austin vs Pflugerville
How do smoke detectors rules compare between Austin, TX and Pflugerville, TX?
Pflugerville has fewer restrictions than Austin.
Austin, TX
Travis County
Austin follows the International Fire Code and Texas Property Code §92.251-.262 requiring working smoke alarms in every sleeping room, hallway, and each story of a dwelling. Rental properties must have alarms tested at move-in, and interconnected 10-year sealed-battery alarms are required in new construction.
View full Austin rules →Pflugerville, TX
Travis County
Smoke detector requirements follow Texas Property Code Ch. 92 for rental dwellings (landlord must install and maintain one in each bedroom and hallway). Owner-occupied homes in unincorporated Travis County have no county-level requirement, but state fire code encourages compliance. STR operators must meet TX 2015 IRC smoke alarm standards.
View full Pflugerville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Austin | Pflugerville |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| State Law | - | TX Prop Code 92.255 |
| Rental | - | Bedroom + hall required |
| Owner-Occupied | - | No county mandate |
| Austin ETJ | - | 2021 IRC applies |
| CO Alarms | - | Required near sleeping areas |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Austin FAQ
Pflugerville FAQ
Do I need smoke detectors in my owner-occupied Travis County home?
No county-level mandate for unincorporated owner-occupied homes, but strongly recommended. Austin and its ETJ enforce the 2021 IRC.
What are my rights as a renter if my landlord wont install smoke alarms?
Under TX Property Code 92.260 you can seek injunctive relief, actual damages, one months rent plus 500 dollars, and attorneys fees.
Compare other topics
See how Austin and Pflugerville compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool