California law requires smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every floor of a home. Carbon monoxide detectors are required near bedrooms per CA Health & Safety Code 17926. Orange County Fire Authority enforces these requirements in unincorporated areas.
California Health & Safety Code Sections 13113.7 and 13114 require smoke alarms in all existing dwellings. Alarms must be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every floor including basements. As of January 1, 2014, all smoke alarms in California must be sealed 10-year lithium battery models or hardwired. Battery-only replaceable-battery alarms are no longer compliant for new installations. Carbon monoxide detectors are required near bedrooms per CA Health & Safety Code 17926 in dwellings with fossil fuel appliances or attached garages. OCFA conducts fire safety inspections and can require compliance during home sales or remodeling permits. Landlords must ensure working smoke and CO detectors at tenant move-in. The California Fire Code adopted by OCFA requires interconnected alarms in new construction so all alarms sound when one is triggered.
Failure to maintain working smoke alarms violates CA Health & Safety Code. Landlords face penalties for non-compliance at tenant move-in. Homes sold without compliant alarms require seller disclosure. OCFA enforces during inspections. Fines vary; insurance claims may be affected.
Midway City, CA
Midway City is an unincorporated CDP in Orange County, CA, surrounded by Westminster. Because it has no city government, Orange County Codified Ordinances Ti...
Orange County, CA
Unincorporated Orange County exempts one small detached non-habitable accessory structure - a shed - per 7,200 square feet of building site area from accesso...
Orange County, CA
Carports in unincorporated Orange County are governed by Section 7-9-70.3(d) of the Codified Ordinances, which requires carports to comply with main-building...
Orange County, CA
Unincorporated Orange County allows the conversion of an existing garage, carport, or accessory structure into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) under Section...
Orange County, CA
Unincorporated Orange County requires every pool/spa deeper than 18 inches to be enclosed by a barrier at least 60 inches (5 ft) high under California Health...
Orange County, CA
Unincorporated Orange County allows ADUs on any residentially zoned lot under OC Zoning Code (Title 7, Division 9) and California Government Code §65852.2 (A...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle smoke detectors.
See how Midway City's smoke detectors rules stack up against other locations.
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