Florida law (FS 553.883) and the Florida Building Code require smoke alarms in every dwelling. New homes must be hardwired; when replacing a battery unit or doing a level-1 alteration, the new alarm must use a nonremovable 10-year sealed battery.
Smoke-alarm requirements in Polk County follow statewide Florida law, not a separate county code. FS 553.883 governs smoke alarms in one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes. New construction must have interconnected, hardwired smoke alarms with battery backup per the Florida Building Code, generally installed in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level. For existing homes undergoing a repair or level-1 alteration, a battery-powered smoke alarm that is newly installed or replaces an existing battery-powered alarm must be powered by a nonremovable, nonreplaceable 10-year battery. Alarms should be tested monthly and replaced about every 10 years.
Enforced through building-permit inspection and the Florida Fire Prevention Code; landlords/rentals failing to maintain working alarms face code-enforcement action and civil liability.
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