Colusa County, CA Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

Smoke-detector requirements in unincorporated Colusa County come from the California building standards the county adopts rather than from a custom county rule. County Code Chapter 5 'Building Code,' Article II, adopts by reference the California Building Standards Code in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, including the California Building Code, the California Residential Code (Sec. 5-13) and the California Fire Code (Sec. 5-12). Those statewide codes require smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a dwelling, with interconnection and hardwiring required in new construction and in certain alterations or additions. California Health & Safety Code 13113.7 and 13113.8 further require operable smoke alarms in all dwelling units intended for human occupancy, and California Health & Safety Code 17926 requires carbon-monoxide alarms in dwelling units that have fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or an attached garage. For most existing homes, battery-operated alarms that meet the State Fire Marshal's listing are acceptable; substantial remodels and new builds must meet the current Residential Code interconnection and power requirements. Landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining required alarms in rental units. Because Colusa County simply adopts the state codes, the obligations track California law and update as the state codes are revised.