Fort Lauderdale enforces the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Ed. (2023), Section R314 for smoke alarms - one in each sleeping room, one outside each sleeping area, one on each floor, all interconnected with battery backup. Vacation rentals must hard-wire and interconnect alarms under Code Section 15-278.
Fort Lauderdale, sitting in the Florida Building Code's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), enforces FBC Residential 8th Edition (2023) Section R314 statewide for new construction and substantial alterations. R314.3 requires smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on each story including basements. R314.4 requires interconnection so that activation of one alarm sounds all alarms in the dwelling. R314.6 requires hard-wired primary power from the building wiring with battery backup. For Level 1 alterations to existing single-family homes, Florida Statute 553.883 allows replacement battery alarms to be sealed 10-year units. For registered vacation rentals, Fort Lauderdale Code Section 15-278 specifically requires interconnected, hard-wired smoke and CO alarms compliant with R314, plus a 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher per NFPA 10 on each floor.
Missing or non-functioning smoke alarms can stop the issuance or renewal of a Vacation Rental Certificate of Compliance. New construction or alterations without R314-compliant alarms will fail Building Department inspection. State Fire Marshal enforcement applies to lodging units under FS Chapter 633.
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Fort Lauderdale, FL
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