Calaveras County, CA Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

There is no separate, more-lenient Calaveras County smoke-alarm ordinance; the unincorporated county follows statewide standards. California Health & Safety Code section 13113.7 requires that smoke alarms approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal be installed, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, in each dwelling intended for human occupancy. The requirement applies broadly to single-family homes, apartments, condominiums, hotels, and motels. New alarms may be battery-operated if approved by the State Fire Marshal for sale in California, unless a local rule prohibits battery units. For rental property, owners must ensure alarms are operable at the start of a tenancy and correct reported deficiencies after notice from tenants, and tenants must allow access for installation, testing, and maintenance with reasonable written notice. Separately, California's carbon monoxide law (Health & Safety Code section 17926 and related provisions) requires carbon monoxide alarms in dwellings that have a fossil-fuel-burning heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage; CO alarms must be placed outside sleeping areas and on every level, including basements. Standard fire-safe practice - and current building standards for new and substantially remodeled homes - calls for smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level. Because much of unincorporated Calaveras County is in high fire-hazard terrain, working smoke and CO alarms are an important early-warning layer alongside defensible space and home hardening.