Oakland County, MI Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

Michigan adopts smoke-alarm rules through MCL 125.1504c (the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act). That statute requires owners of buildings constructed before November 6, 1974 to install at least one smoke alarm per dwelling unit. For all other residential occupancies, smoke alarms must comply with the Michigan Residential Code (MRC) Section R314 and the Michigan Building Code. Under MRC R314, smoke alarms are required: (1) inside each sleeping room; (2) outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms; and (3) on each additional story including basements and habitable attics. New construction requires hardwired alarms with battery backup, interconnected so that activation of one alarm sounds all alarms. In existing dwellings, when alterations or additions requiring a permit occur, smoke alarms must be added to bring the dwelling up to current code, though battery-only units may be permitted where wiring is not exposed. Michigan also requires carbon monoxide alarms under MCL 125.1504f at the time of construction, renovation requiring a permit, or bedroom addition; CO devices must conform to ANSI/UL 2034 or 2075. Oakland County municipalities enforce these requirements through local building departments at the time of permit inspections and rental inspections.