Selma, CA Fire Regulations: Smoke Detectors (2026)

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. 6d requires sellers to provide a written statement confirming that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are properly installed and in operable condition.

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.