Smoke alarms in Fort Myers are required under the Florida Building Code as administered by the Fort Myers Building Department and the Fort Myers Fire Department, and under Florida Statute 553.883. New construction and substantial alterations require hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms with battery backup in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the dwelling including basements. Effective January 1, 2015, any newly installed or replacement battery-powered smoke alarm in a one- or two-family dwelling or townhome must be powered by a non-removable, non-replaceable battery rated to power the alarm for at least 10 years. The Fort Myers Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau enforces under Chapter 40 of the City Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
Florida regulates residential smoke alarms through two coordinated frameworks. (1) The Florida Building Code, Residential (adopted under FS § 553.73 and currently in the 8th Edition / 2023) requires in new one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms with battery backup installed inside each sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on each additional story of the dwelling including basements and habitable attics. (2) Florida Statute 553.883 ('Smoke alarms in one-family and two-family dwellings and townhomes') provides that one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes undergoing a repair or Level 1 alteration as defined in the Florida Building Code may use smoke alarms powered by 10-year nonremovable, nonreplaceable batteries in lieu of retrofitting the dwelling with smoke alarms powered by the dwelling's electrical system. Effective January 1, 2015, a battery-powered smoke alarm that is newly installed or replaces an existing battery-powered smoke alarm must be powered by a nonremovable, nonreplaceable battery that powers the alarm for at least 10 years. The battery requirement does not apply to alarms electronically connected as part of a centrally monitored or supervised alarm system, alarms using low-power radio frequency wireless signals, or multisensor units (such as combined smoke/carbon monoxide alarms) approved and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Carbon monoxide alarms are required by FS § 553.885 in new construction with fossil-fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. The Florida Fire Prevention Code (8th Edition, NFPA 1, 2021) incorporated into the Fort Myers Code Chapter 40 and enforced by the Fort Myers Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau (239-321-7350) governs commercial occupancies and multifamily fire alarm systems. Plan review and permitting for fire alarm systems is administered electronically through the Fort Myers Fire Department Mobile Eyes portal.
Missing or inoperative smoke alarms in a regulated dwelling violate the Florida Building Code and FS § 553.883; violations may be cited by the Fort Myers Building Department (construction phase) or Fort Myers Fire Department (occupied buildings). FFPC violations are subject to penalties under FS § 633.228 and Fort Myers Code Chapter 40 enforcement. Contact Fort Myers Fire Prevention Bureau at 239-321-7350.
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