Edison, NJ Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage
- every floor plus basement
- Sleeping areas
- detector within 10 ft
- Battery alarms
- 10-year sealed, ANSI/UL 217
- Min fine
- $50 (up to $500 on sale)
Summary
Edison Township requires a smoke detector on every floor of a dwelling unit, including the basement, plus one within 10 feet of each sleeping area, with owners liable for installation and upkeep.
One smoke detector shall be installed on the highest habitable level of every dwelling unit and on each floor level, including the basement, where one of such detectors shall be located on the basement or cellar ceiling as close as possible to the stairway opening. Additionally, smoke detectors shall be installed within 10 feet of each sleeping area.
b. The smoke alarms required in Subsection a above shall be located and maintained in accordance with NFPA 72.
c. Ten-year sealed battery-powered single station smoke alarms shall be installed and shall be listed in accordance with ANSI/UL 217. However, A/C-powered single or multiple-station smoke alarms installed as part of the original construction or rehabilitation project shall not be replaced with battery-powered smoke alarms.
d. A/C-powered smoke alarms shall be accepted as meeting the requirements of this section provided that they are not more than 10 years in age.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4904708; v19 updated 2026-03-25; through 03-25-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under § 16-3.3, every dwelling unit needs a smoke detector on its highest habitable level and on each floor including the basement, with the basement unit mounted on the ceiling near the stairway opening; detectors must also sit within 10 feet of every sleeping area and follow NFPA 72 placement. Ten-year sealed battery alarms must meet ANSI/UL 217, and AC-powered alarms already installed qualify if under 10 years old. The dwelling owner must install and maintain the detectors (§ 16-3.4(a)); tenants must replace batteries in units the owner installed. Tampering with a detector is unlawful (§ 16-3.5).
Violations & Fines
Minimum fine of $50, up to the general Chapter I § 1-5 penalty plus N.J.S.A. 52:27D-198.3 (§ 16-3.9); selling a home without a compliance certificate draws up to a $500 penalty against the seller (§ 16-3.4(e)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to install smoke detectors in an Edison rental?
What happens if I sell my Edison home without a smoke detector certificate?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Edison
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