Smoke alarms in Shelby County follow Tennessee law and the adopted building and fire codes. State law requires approved smoke alarms in every one- and two-family rental unit, and the International Fire and Residential Codes require alarms in bedrooms, outside sleeping areas, and on each level of a dwelling.
Smoke-alarm requirements in Shelby County derive from Tennessee state law and the adopted codes, not a unique county ordinance. Under T.C.A. Section 68-102-151, it is unlawful to own or operate a one- or two-family rental unit without an approved smoke alarm in each living unit; a violation is a Class A misdemeanor, each day a separate offense. Alarms must be listed by a testing agency such as Underwriters Laboratories or approved by the State Fire Marshal. Tenants maintain alarms during tenancy, but at its end the owner must ensure they work before reoccupancy. New construction follows the adopted codes, requiring alarms in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level, plus carbon-monoxide alarms where fuel-burning appliances exist.
Operating a one- or two-family rental unit without required smoke alarms is a Class A misdemeanor under T.C.A. Section 68-102-151, each day of noncompliance a separate offense. Missing alarms found during permitted work must be corrected before final approval.
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See how Shelby County's smoke detectors rules stack up against other locations.
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