Chelan County, WA Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

Chelan County does not run a freestanding smoke-detector chapter; the requirement is written into § 14.98.267, the definition of "bedroom" adopted for Chapter 11.88's short-term rental rules. Any enclosed or open space in a short-term rental that offers sleeping accommodations (beds, sofa sleepers, bunkbeds, Murphy beds, and similar) counts as a bedroom, must have an egress door or window meeting International Residential Code standards, and must be equipped with a working smoke alarm inside that room. Compliance is checked as part of the county's short-term rental permitting track under § 11.88.290.

Before the county issues an initial short-term rental permit, the Fire Marshal's office or Community Development staff must complete a life-safety inspection covering the property's fire and short-term rental standards (§ 11.88.290(4)(H)(i)). Once permitted, the Fire Marshal's office performs a follow-up fire and life-safety inspection every other year, and the county encourages owners to run an annual self-inspection using the checklist the Fire Marshal's office provides (§ 11.88.290(4)(H)(iii)). The code places ongoing responsibility on the owner: it is the owner's job to keep the rental in substantial compliance with fire, building, and safety codes at all times, not just at permit issuance (§ 11.88.290(4)(H)(iv)).

Denying an inspector entry, or interfering with a scheduled inspection or reinspection under § 11.88.290, is itself grounds for immediate denial or revocation of the short-term rental permit under § 16.20.040(2)(F).