Richmond, CA Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirements
- Smoke alarms required in every bedroom, hallway, and floor (HSC 13113.7)
- Alarms Sold
- Alarms sold post-2014 must have 10-yr sealed battery or be hardwired (SB
- Requirements
- CO detectors required in homes with fuel appliances or attached garages
- Landlords Verify
- Landlords must verify operability each tenancy; Rent Program enforces
- Requirements
- Point-of-sale compliance required under Civil Code 1102.6f
Summary
California law requires working smoke alarms in every Richmond dwelling unit, with additional carbon-monoxide detector requirements. All units must have battery-backup or 10-year sealed-battery alarms. Point-of-sale and rental-turnover compliance is mandatory, enforced by Richmond Fire Prevention and the Rent Program for covered rentals.
(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, smoke alarms, approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13114 at the time of installation, shall be installed, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions in each dwelling intended for human occupancy.
(b) "Dwelling units intended for human occupancy," as used in this section, includes a one- or two-unit dwelling, lodging house, apartment complex, hotel, motel, condominium, stock cooperative, time-share project, or dwelling unit of a multiple-unit dwelling complex, or factory-built housing as defined in Section 19971.
(d) (1) The owner shall be responsible for testing and maintaining alarms in hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartment complexes, and other multiple-dwelling complexes in which units are neither rented nor leased.
(2) The owner of a hotel, motel, lodging house, apartment complex, or other multiple-dwelling complex in which units are rented or leased, and commencing January 1, 2014, the owner of a single-family dwelling that is rented or leased, shall be responsible for testing and maintaining alarms required by this section as follows:
(A) An owner or the owner's agent may enter any dwelling unit, efficiency dwelling unit, guest room, and suite owned by the owner for the purpose of installing, repairing, testing, and maintaining single station smoke alarms required by this section. Except in cases of emergency, the owner or owner's agent shall give the tenants of each such unit, room, or suite reasonable notice in writing of the intention to enter and shall enter only during normal business hours. Twenty-four hours shall be presumed to be reasonable notice in absence of evidence to the contrary.
(B) At the time that a new tenancy is created, the owner shall ensure that smoke alarms are operable. The tenant shall be responsible for notifying the manager or owner if the tenant becomes aware of an inoperable smoke alarm within his or her unit.
Full Breakdown
8, all single-family and multi-family dwellings must have operational smoke alarms in every bedroom, in hallways outside sleeping areas, and on every floor. Since July 1, 2014, any new alarm sold in California must be either hardwired with battery backup or contain a sealed 10-year non-removable battery (SB 745). , the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010). For rental properties, landlords must verify operability at the start of each tenancy and repair/replace on written notice from tenants; the Richmond Rent Program (enforcing Richmond's rent-control and just-cause ordinances) treats smoke/CO detector failures as habitability violations.
6f. Richmond Fire Department responds to complaints and can issue correction notices. Multi-family buildings with three or more units must also maintain centralized fire-alarm systems per California Fire Code Chapter 9, inspected annually. Tampering with, removing, or disabling a required alarm is a misdemeanor under California law. Free or discounted smoke alarms are periodically available through Richmond Fire's community outreach and the American Red Cross Sound the Alarm program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for smoke alarms in a Richmond rental?
Do I need CO detectors if my home is all-electric?
Can I use 9-volt battery alarms?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richmond
California rules heatmap·Compare Richmond to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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