Boone County, KY Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Boone County Code § 114.07
- Standard
- Working smoke detectors per adopted codes
- Verified by
- Self-safety inspection, § 114.03(B)(6)
- First fine
- $200 per violation
- Repeat fine
- $500 within 365 days
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Boone County STRs only
Summary
Boone County Code § 114.07 requires every short-term rental in the unincorporated county to have working smoke detectors installed to the adopted building and fire code, verified at permitting and renewal and backed by civil fines.
Each short term rental property shall have working smoke detectors in accordance with adopted codes and at least one working carbon monoxide detector and alarm and one working fire extinguisher. The premises shall otherwise comply with applicable county ordinances.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance 2025-20, passed 6-17-25; and State legislation current through KRS 2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 114 of the Boone County Code, adopted by Ord. 2021-31 on 9-19-21, governs short term rentals operating in unincorporated Boone County, outside Florence, Union and Walton. " The phrase "in accordance with adopted codes" ties the smoke-detector standard to the state-adopted Kentucky Building Code and NFPA 1124 that Boone County applies locally, rather than setting an independent detector count or placement rule inside Chapter 114 itself. 04 separately requires the owner to "perform a short term rental fire safety inspection and provide a checklist for the structure" with every application.
The permit is issued through the Boone County Occupational License Office on a calendar-year cycle, so the smoke-detector attestation is renewed annually alongside the permit fee.
Violations & Fines
Operating without working smoke detectors breaches § 114.07 and is enforced under § 114.08: a notice of violation, a seven-day cure period, then a citation from Code Enforcement, a Building Inspector, or a sworn officer carrying a $200 fine, or $500 for a repeat violation of the same type within 365 days at the same property, plus a lien for unpaid fines and possible permit revocation under § 114.03(F).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Boone County specify how many smoke detectors an STR needs?
How does the county confirm smoke detectors are installed?
What is the penalty for an STR without working smoke detectors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boone County
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