Smoke Detectors: Chandler vs Mesa

Where do smoke alarms have to be installed in a Chandler home?

Under the 2018 IFC Section 907.2.11 and 2018 IRC Section R314 adopted by reference in Chandler City Code Chapter 19, smoke alarms must be installed inside each sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms, and on each story of the dwelling including basements. New-construction alarms must be hardwired, interconnected, and have a battery backup.

Who is responsible for the smoke alarm in a Chandler rental, the tenant or the landlord?

Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 36-1637, the tenant is responsible for keeping the smoke alarm operable, including replacing batteries, unless the tenant gives written notice to the landlord that the alarm is malfunctioning. Once the landlord receives that written notice, the landlord must repair or replace the alarm. Confirm any local amendments with Chandler Fire Prevention at 480-782-2120.

Does Mesa have its own smoke detector ordinance?

No. Mesa enforces Arizona Revised Statutes Sec. 36-1637 and the International Fire Code adopted through Title 7 of the Mesa City Code rather than a stand-alone city smoke alarm ordinance. ARS 36-1637 requires an approved smoke detector in every new residential unit and in any existing unit where a sleeping area is remodeled with a permit. Mesa Fire and Medical also recommends monthly testing and replacing alarms every 10 years.

Who is responsible for smoke alarms in a Mesa rental, the landlord or the tenant?

Arizona ARS 36-1637 makes the tenant responsible for keeping the alarm operable, including testing it and replacing batteries. If the tenant gives the landlord written notice that a smoke detector is malfunctioning, the landlord must repair it. Landlords must also provide tenants with written notice of these responsibilities. Mesa enforces this state framework.