Selma requires smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in all residential dwellings under the California Building Code and Health and Safety Code Section 13113.7, which mandates smoke alarms approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal in every dwelling unit intended for human occupancy. The Selma Fire Department and Building Division jointly enforce these requirements for both new construction and existing homes. Smoke alarms must be installed in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on every level of the dwelling including basements and habitable attics. For new construction and major remodels, alarms must be hardwired to the building electrical system with battery backup and interconnected so that activation of any single alarm causes all alarms throughout the dwelling to sound simultaneously. Carbon monoxide detectors are separately required under HSC 17926 in all dwelling units containing fossil fuel-burning heaters, appliances, or fireplaces, or that have an attached garage. The City of Selma provides a Smoke Detector Affidavit form through its website for use during property transfers and rental compliance verification, confirming that all required smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are properly installed and operational.
California Health and Safety Code Section 13113.7 establishes the statewide requirement for smoke alarms in residential occupancies, and Selma enforces this mandate through both the Building Division during construction permitting and the Fire Department during inspections. Every dwelling unit in Selma must have State Fire Marshal-listed smoke alarms installed in compliance with the manufacturer's instructions and the California Building Code. The specific placement requirements mandate alarms inside each bedroom or sleeping room, in the hallway or area immediately outside each separate sleeping area, and on every story of the dwelling including the basement. For multi-story homes, at least one alarm must be located on each level. In new construction permitted after January 1, 2014, all smoke alarms must be hardwired to the building's electrical system with battery backup capability, and they must be interconnected so that when one alarm activates, all alarms in the dwelling unit sound simultaneously. This interconnection may be achieved through direct wiring or wireless technology approved by the State Fire Marshal. For existing homes built before 2014, battery-operated smoke alarms are acceptable, but California law requires that replacement alarms be equipped with 10-year sealed, non-removable batteries as of July 1, 2014. Carbon monoxide detectors are required under a separate provision, HSC 17926 (also known as the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act), in every dwelling unit that contains a fossil fuel-burning heater, appliance, or fireplace, or that has an attached garage where vehicle exhaust could enter the living space. CO alarms must be installed outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and they may be combination smoke and CO detector units. For property sales and transfers, California Civil Code Section 1102.6d requires sellers to provide a written statement confirming that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are properly installed and in operable condition. The City of Selma makes a Smoke Detector Affidavit form available through its Forms page at cityofselma.com, which property owners can use to document compliance during real estate transactions. Landlords of rental properties bear ongoing responsibility for ensuring that smoke and CO alarms are functional at the time of each new tenancy and must respond to tenant reports of malfunctioning alarms. The Selma Fire Department conducts fire safety education programs through its prevention division and can assist residents with smoke detector questions by contacting the Fire Marshal at (559) 891-2265.
Failure to install required smoke or CO alarms can result in code enforcement action. Landlords who fail to maintain alarms face civil liability under California Civil Code. Non-compliant properties may not pass final building inspection or close escrow during property sales.
See how other cities in Fresno County handle smoke detectors.
See how Selma's smoke detectors rules stack up against other locations.
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