Farmington Hills, MI Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

Smoke alarm regulation in Farmington Hills is anchored by Michigan state law. For one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, the 2015 Michigan Residential Code (MRC, adopted via MCL 125.1502 / Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act) Section R314 governs: R314.3 requires smoke alarms (1) in each sleeping room; (2) outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms; and (3) on each additional story of the dwelling, including basements and habitable attics but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. R314.1.1 requires devices to be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 217 (low-battery signaling). R314.4 requires interconnection where more than one alarm is required, such that actuation of any one activates all alarms (listed wireless interconnect satisfies the requirement). R314.5 requires alarms in new construction to be powered by the building wiring with battery backup. For residential rental property, MCL 125.1504a is the controlling state statute: the owner of any residential rental property constructed before the effective date of construction-code provisions for smoke alarms shall install at least one approved smoke alarm in each unit, and any smoke alarm installed to satisfy this requirement shall be powered by a 10-year sealed lithium battery (or shall be hardwired to the building electrical system with battery backup, in which case the battery does not need to be a 10-year sealed lithium battery). MCL 554.139 (Michigan Truth in Renting Act / residential landlord covenant) makes maintenance of working smoke alarms a default condition of residential leases. The Farmington Hills Fire Department's official guidance to residents: alarms must be less than 10 years old (a stamped manufacturer date is typically on the back; if no date is visible, replace immediately); test monthly; replace batteries when changing clocks for daylight saving time; and consider upgrading to 10-year sealed lithium-battery models (which are required in rentals under MCL 125.1504a). Firefighters offer free home inspections and may provide replacement alarms through community programs at no cost. Carbon monoxide alarms are required by separate state-code provisions in dwellings containing fuel-burning appliances or attached garages (2015 MRC R315). The 2018 and 2021 ICC cycles for the Building Code have not been adopted in Michigan; only Chapter 11 (energy efficiency) of the MRC was updated to the 2018 IRC effective 10/4/2021. The Stille-DeRossett-Hale Act preempts local amendments that conflict with the state code.