Houston, TX Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 766 (Fire Safety in Residential Dwellings), Section 766.002, requires that every one-family or two-family dwelling constructed in Texas have working smoke detectors installed in accordance with the building code in effect in the local political subdivision, including performance, location, and power-source requirements. Houston satisfies this through the Houston Fire Code, which adopts the 2021 International Fire Code with local amendments and is enforced by the Houston Fire Marshal's Office. The IFC and the International Residential Code (adopted statewide under Tex. Local Gov't Code Ch. 214 Subch. G) require smoke alarms in each sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on every story including basements; in new construction the alarms must be hardwired with battery backup and interconnected. For rental dwellings, Tex. Property Code Sec. 92.255 separately requires the landlord to install at least one smoke alarm in each separate bedroom; if multiple bedrooms share a corridor, at least one alarm in the corridor in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms; and at least one alarm on each level of a multi-story unit. A tenant may request inspection in writing under Sec. 92.258. Owner-occupied units (with no part leased) and certain code-regulated buildings five stories or taller are exempt from the Property Code rental subchapter.