Oakley, CA Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

California Health & Safety Code Sections 13113.7 and 13113.8 and State Fire Marshal regulations (Title 24 and Title 19) require smoke alarms in every dwelling unit. Required locations are inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area (hallway within 21 feet of a bedroom door), and on each additional story of the dwelling including basements. New construction and major remodels (permitted work exceeding $1,000) must install hardwired, interconnected smoke alarms with battery backup. For existing homes, battery-only units installed or replaced after July 1, 2015 must be 10-year sealed-battery models bearing the California State Fire Marshal approval. Carbon monoxide alarms are required under Health & Safety Code Section 13261 in any dwelling with a fuel-burning appliance (gas furnace, water heater, stove, fireplace), an attached garage, or a fireplace. CO alarm placement mirrors smoke alarms: outside each sleeping area and on every level. Combination smoke/CO alarms meeting UL 217 and UL 2034 satisfy both requirements. At the time of sale, sellers must certify compliance via the Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement, and escrow typically requires a smoke/CO alarm compliance inspection. Rental properties must have functional alarms at the start of each tenancy, with landlords responsible for initial installation and tenants responsible for replacing batteries and notifying landlords of defects. Tampering with or disabling alarms is prohibited. The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District offers free smoke alarm installation for qualifying seniors and low-income households through community risk-reduction programs. Alarms should be tested monthly and replaced every 10 years regardless of battery life.