Hawaii County, HI Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

10 to require smoke detectors in dwelling units, congregate residences, and hotel or lodging house guest rooms used for sleeping, installed per the manufacturer's approved instructions. New construction must draw primary power from building wiring served by a commercial source, with battery backup that signals when batteries run low, on wiring that is permanent and has no disconnect switch other than required overcurrent protection; detectors may be solely battery-operated only in existing buildings, buildings without commercial power, or during additions, alterations, or repairs under subsection (b).

That subsection triggers whenever an addition, alteration, or repair to a Group R sleeping room exceeds $1,000 in valuation and needs a permit, or whenever a sleeping room is added or created in an existing Group R occupancy: smoke detectors must then be installed per subsections (c) through (e). Placement rules under subsection (d) require a detector in each sleeping room and one centrally located in the corridor or area giving access to each separate sleeping area; multi-story dwellings and those with basements need a detector on every story and in the basement, with split-level rules for units where a story splits across levels.

Detectors must sound an alarm audible in all sleeping areas of the unit. Efficiency dwelling units, hotel suites, and hotel or congregate residence sleeping rooms follow a parallel placement rule under subsection (e), with detectors on the ceiling or wall of the main room or each sleeping room. 11, must comply with the Fire Code and be approved by the fire chief.