Olathe, KS Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Location
- Required in every sleeping room
- Hallway alarm
- Within 21 ft of bedroom door
- Every story
- Including basements and habitable attics
- Clearance
- 3 ft from bath doors and vents
- Max penalty
- $2,500 fine or 90 days jail
Summary
Olathe's amended residential code requires smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas within 21 feet, and on every additional story, with specific clearance from bathrooms, vents, and ceiling fans.
R314.2 Location. Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations and in accordance with Chapter 29 of NFPA 72: 1. In each sleeping room. 2. Outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms within 21 ft of any door to a sleeping room, with the distance measured along a path of travel. 3. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements and habitable attics and not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-39, passed July 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Olathe amended Section R314.3 of the adopted 2018 International Residential Code to spell out exact smoke-alarm placement: one in every sleeping room, one outside each sleeping area within 21 feet of a bedroom door, and one on every additional story including basements and habitable attics. Alarms must sit at least 3 feet from bathroom doors, HVAC registers, and ceiling-fan blades, and be reachable for testing without special equipment. The rule applies citywide in Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas, and violations of the adopted residential code carry up to a $2,500 fine or 90 days in jail under Section R113.4.
Violations & Fines
Violating the adopted residential code, including smoke-alarm placement, is a misdemeanor under Section R113.4: up to a $2,500 fine plus possible 90 days imprisonment for continuing violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Olathe require a smoke alarm in every bedroom?
How many smoke alarms does a two-story Olathe home need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Olathe
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