Philadelphia County requires working smoke alarms in all residential dwellings per the Philadelphia Fire Code. Alarms must be on every floor and within sleeping areas. Rental units require 10-year sealed battery or hardwired units under Section F-907.
Philadelphia Fire Code Section F-907 requires smoke alarms in all new and existing dwelling units. Alarms must be installed in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every story including basements. Philadelphia Ordinance Bill No. 180936 requires all rental dwellings to have 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke alarms or hardwired alarms. Landlords must provide and test alarms; tenants must not disable them. Carbon monoxide alarms are also required in units with fuel-burning appliances.
Violations are cited by Philadelphia Fire Department and Licenses and Inspections. Landlord fines start at $300 per missing or non-functioning alarm. Tenant tampering fines up to $100.
See how Philadelphia County's smoke detectors rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.