Bloomington, IN Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Detector standard
- code in effect when structure was built
- State minimum
- Indiana Code §§ 22-11-18-1 to -6
- First re-inspection fine
- $10 per uncorrected violation
- Later re-inspection fine
- $50 per uncorrected violation
- Rental tampering fine
- $100 under § 16.10.030
- Appeal window
- 30 days to Board of Public Safety
Summary
In the City of Bloomington, Bloomington Municipal Code § 18.12.020 requires smoke detectors to be installed and maintained under the building code that applied when the structure was built, and every structure must meet the minimum state standard in Indiana Code §§ 22-11-18-1 through 22-11-18-6. The Fire Department enforces the requirement, and tampering with a required detector is separately punishable under the city's rental fine schedule.
(a)Whenever the fire chief observes an apparent or actual violation of a provision of this code or other ordinances under the fire chief's jurisdiction, the fire chief shall prepare a written notice of violation and order describing the condition deemed unsafe and specify a reasonable time for the required repairs or improvements to be made to correct such violation. ... (b)With the exception of violation of established occupancy limits, there shall be a ten dollar penalty for each separate and distinct violation of the provisions of this code, or other ordinances under the fire chief's jurisdiction, that has been listed in the notice of violation described in the previous subsection, and that has not been remedied by the time of a first re-inspection. This penalty shall rise to fifty dollars for each separate and distinct violation that has not been remedied by a second, and each subsequent, re-inspection. ... Smoke detectors shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the building code in effect at the time of construction, and in all structures shall meet the minimum provisions of Indiana Code Section 22-11-18-1 through Section 22-11-18-6.
Full Breakdown
020: detectors must be installed and maintained in accordance with the building code in effect at the time of construction, and every structure in the city must meet the minimum standards of Indiana Code §§ 22-11-18-1 through 22-11-18-6. 080(a) the fire chief issues a written notice of violation describing the unsafe condition and a reasonable correction period. 080(b) sets the general Title 18 penalty ladder that applies to an uncorrected smoke-detector violation: ten dollars for each distinct violation still open at the first re-inspection, rising to fifty dollars for each violation still open at a second or later re-inspection.
010(a). 030, so a landlord or tenant who defeats a detector in a rental unit faces that Title 16 penalty on top of the Title 18 inspection process.
Violations & Fines
An uncorrected smoke-detector violation carries a ten-dollar fine per distinct violation still open at the first fire-department re-inspection, rising to fifty dollars at a second or later re-inspection under § 18.04.080(b). In a rental unit, disabling a required smoke or carbon monoxide detector is also a separate $100 violation under Bloomington's rental fine schedule, § 16.10.030, appealable to the Board of Public Safety within thirty days.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
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