Smoke Detectors: Santa Clara vs Sunnyvale
How do smoke detectors rules compare between Santa Clara, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
Santa Clara and Sunnyvale have similar restriction levels.
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara County
California law requires smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of dwellings in Santa Clara. Carbon monoxide alarms are also mandatory.
View full Santa Clara rules →Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County
Sunnyvale enforces the California Building Code and State Health and Safety Code requiring working smoke alarms in every bedroom, hallway, and level of a home. Detectors must be hardwired in new construction.
View full Sunnyvale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Santa Clara | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| Where required | Every bedroom and level | - |
| Battery type | 10-year sealed or hardwired | - |
| CO alarms | Required with gas appliances or garages | - |
| Landlord duty | Test at each tenant turnover | - |
| Code basis | CA H&S 13113.7, 13113.8 | - |
| Bedroom alarm | - | Required in each |
| Hallway alarm | - | Required outside sleeping |
| New construction | - | Hardwired interconnected |
| Battery standard | - | 10-year sealed since 2014 |
| CO alarm | - | Required with fuel appliances |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Santa Clara FAQ
Can I still use 9-volt battery alarms?
Existing 9-volt alarms installed before July 2014 can remain, but any replacement must be a 10-year sealed battery or hardwired unit that is State Fire Marshal listed.
Who pays for alarms in a rental?
California law places responsibility on the landlord to install and maintain smoke and CO alarms; tenants must notify the landlord of deficiencies.
Sunnyvale FAQ
Do I need to replace battery-only smoke alarms in my older Sunnyvale home?
At point of sale or rental you must have 10-year sealed battery alarms. Otherwise replace when existing alarms reach 10 years of age.
Is the landlord or tenant responsible?
The landlord must install and maintain alarms, but the tenant is responsible for testing and reporting failures.
Compare other topics
See how Santa Clara and Sunnyvale 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