Arlington County, VA Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Certification frequency
- Move-in, renewal, and annually
- Repair deadline
- 5 days after written notice
- Record duty
- Keep alarm inventory for lease term
- State law tie-in
- Va. Code § 55-248.16
- Nuisance-alarm test trigger
- >3 false alarms in 12 months
- Enforcing agency
- Arlington County Fire Prevention Office
Summary
Arlington County's Fire Prevention Code requires landlords to certify working smoke alarms to tenants at move-in, at every lease renewal, and at least annually, and to repair or replace a malfunctioning alarm within 5 days of written notice.
907.8.5.2 Responsibilities of owner, agent, or tenants for smoke alarms. 1. The owner or management agent of a dwelling unit which is rented or leased in a residential building containing one (1) or more dwelling units, shall furnish the tenant at the beginning of each tenancy, at each renewal or extension of a tenancy and at least annually, written certification that all required smoke alarms are present, have been inspected, are operational and in good working order. 4. In accordance with Section 55-248.16 of the Code of Virginia (1950, as amended), the owner or management agent shall repair or replace any inoperative or malfunctioning smoke alarms. Such service, repair, or replacement and/or restoration of the alarms to normal operative condition shall occur within five (5) days of their receipt of written notice that a smoke alarm is in need of repair, inoperative or otherwise not properly functioning.
Full Breakdown
2 of the Arlington County Fire Prevention Code sets four specific duties for the owner or management agent of a rented or leased dwelling unit in a residential building. First, the owner or agent must give the tenant, at the start of each tenancy, at each renewal or extension, and at least annually, written certification that all required smoke alarms are present, inspected, operational, and in good working order. Second, the owner or agent must keep copies of that written certification for the entire lease term, including an inventory of every smoke alarm's location and working status, and produce those copies to the fire code official on reasonable request.
Third, the owner or management agent, or another responsible party set out in the lease, is responsible for interim testing, maintenance, and reasonable care of the smoke alarms, including battery replacement. 16, the owner or management agent must repair or replace any inoperative or malfunctioning smoke alarm, and must complete that repair, replacement, or restoration within 5 days of receiving written notice that an alarm needs attention. 1, lets the fire code official require a witnessed test of a building's fire protection system whenever false, faulty, or nuisance alarm activations exceed 3 in a 12-month period.
Violations & Fines
Failing to provide the required written smoke-alarm certification, failing to maintain inventory records, or failing to repair or replace a malfunctioning smoke alarm within the 5-day window after written notice violates § 907.8.5.2 and is enforced by the Arlington County Fire Marshal's Office, which can require corrective action and inspect the owner's certification records on demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must my landlord certify the smoke alarms work?
How fast must a landlord fix a broken smoke alarm?
Who is responsible for smoke alarm batteries?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
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