Smoke detectors are required under the adopted International Residential Code and TX Property Code 92.251 for rentals. Landlords must install and maintain alarms in every bedroom and on each floor.
Tarrant County residential construction follows state-adopted International Residential Code standards for smoke alarm placement, requiring hardwired interconnected smoke alarms with battery backup in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a dwelling. For rental units, Texas Property Code 92.251 through 92.262 imposes a parallel duty on landlords to install, inspect, and maintain smoke alarms on each floor and in each bedroom. Tenants may request installation or repair in writing, and landlords have seven days to act. Failure can support a tenant suit for one month of rent plus $100, court costs, and attorney fees. Carbon monoxide alarms are not mandated by state law for all dwellings but are strongly recommended for homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. Cities within Tarrant County enforce building codes at the municipal level.
Landlord smoke alarm failures under TX Property Code 92.260: civil penalty of one months rent plus $100 plus fees. Building code violations: enforced through permit and inspection process in cities.
See how Tarrant County's smoke detectors rules stack up against other locations.
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