Saint Paul, MN Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 39.01, Smoke Alarms and CO Alarms
- State cross-reference
- Minn. Stat. §§ 299F.362, 299F.51
- New construction
- Smoke alarms wired to centralized AC power
- Tenant notice
- Written alarm location/operation instructions required
- Tied to
- Fire certificate of occupancy renewal affidavit
Summary
Saint Paul requires a working smoke alarm in every dwelling, lodginghouse, apartment house and hotel under Chapter 39, adopting the state smoke-alarm statute (Minn. Stat. §§ 299F.362, 299F.51) into city code. New construction must wire smoke alarms to a centralized AC power source, and landlords must give every tenant written instructions on each alarm's location, testing procedure and low-battery notification steps.
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms shall be maintained in dwellings, lodginghouses, apartment houses and hotels as required by Minnesota statutes 299F.362 and 299F.51, in accordance with the rules promulgated thereunder. In new construction, smoke alarms shall be attached to a centralized AC primary electrical power source. ... (a)The owner of a lodginghouse, apartment house, hotel or rented dwelling shall deliver to the occupant of each dwelling unit or guest room a written explanation of the location and operation of each smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm, and instructions describing the actions to be taken when an alarm sounds and the procedures for testing the alarms and for contacting the owner or his representative when a low-battery tone sounds or power light fails.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 133 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
51, in accordance with the rules promulgated thereunder," and in new construction those alarms must be hard-wired to "a centralized AC primary electrical power source" rather than running on battery alone. 02(a) then imposes a notice duty distinct from the installation itself: the owner of any lodginghouse, apartment house, hotel or rented dwelling must hand each occupant a written explanation covering where each smoke alarm is located, how it operates, what to do when it sounds, how to test it, and who to contact if a low-battery tone or power-light failure occurs.
02(c) requires an affidavit with every fire certificate of occupancy renewal application attesting that all required alarms are inspected, serviced and operational. 02(b) can start. Because Chapter 40's fire certificate of occupancy program treats Chapter 39 compliance as part of the safety-code inspection behind every certificate, a missing or unwired smoke alarm can hold up both new certificates and renewals for licensed rental buildings citywide.
Violations & Fines
Failing to install or wire a smoke alarm as Section 39.01 requires, or failing to give tenants the written instructions Section 39.02(a) demands, puts an owner out of compliance with Chapter 39; because Chapter 40 folds Chapter 39 into the safety-code inspection behind every fire certificate of occupancy, DSI can hold up issuance or renewal of that certificate until the alarms and paperwork are brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Saint Paul landlords have to give tenants written smoke alarm instructions?
Must new construction in Saint Paul wire smoke alarms to house power?
What state law does Saint Paul's smoke alarm ordinance rely on?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Saint Paul
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