Travis County, TX Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- State Law
- TX Prop Code 92.255
- Rental
- Bedroom + hall required
- Owner-Occupied
- No county mandate
- Austin ETJ
- 2021 IRC applies
- CO Alarms
- Required near sleeping areas
Summary
Smoke detector requirements follow Texas Property Code Ch. 92 for rental dwellings (landlord must install and maintain one in each bedroom and hallway). Owner-occupied homes in unincorporated Travis County have no county-level requirement, but state fire code encourages compliance. STR operators must meet TX 2015 IRC smoke alarm standards.
Sec. 92.255. INSTALLATION AND LOCATION. (a) A landlord shall install at least one smoke alarm in each separate bedroom in a dwelling unit. In addition: (1) if the dwelling unit is designed to use a single smoke alarm to provide alarms for more than one bedroom, the landlord shall comply with recognized standards regarding placement... Sec. 92.254. SMOKE ALARM. (a) A smoke alarm must be: (1) designed to detect both the visible and invisible products of combustion; (2) designed with an alarm audible to a person in the bedrooms it serves...
Full Breakdown
TX Property Code 92.255 requires landlords to install smoke alarms powered by battery or hardwired outside each bedroom, in each bedroom (for construction after Sept 2011), and on each level. Tenants may not disable them. Travis County does not adopt the IRC as a county building code due to Texas county authority limits, but homes built in Austin city limits or within its ETJ follow the 2021 IRC: interconnected hardwired alarms with battery backup in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and each floor. CO alarms required near sleeping areas for homes with gas appliances or attached garages. ESDs recommend 10-year sealed lithium battery alarms for new installations.
Violations & Fines
Landlord failure to install/repair: tenant may obtain injunctive relief, actual damages, one months rent plus 500 dollars, attorneys fees under TX Prop Code 92.260. Owner-occupied unincorporated homes: no county enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need smoke detectors in my owner-occupied Travis County home?
What are my rights as a renter if my landlord wont install smoke alarms?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Travis County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Travis County to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.