Toledo requires working smoke detectors in all residential dwellings under the Ohio Residential Code and Toledo Fire Prevention Code. Rental units must have hardwired or 10-year sealed-battery detectors in every bedroom and on every level.
Ohio Residential Code adopted by Toledo requires smoke alarms in all sleeping rooms, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a home including basements. New construction and substantial renovations require hardwired, interconnected smoke alarms with battery backup. Existing dwellings may use battery-only alarms, but Toledo Code Enforcement and the Fire Prevention Bureau strongly recommend 10-year sealed lithium-battery units. Carbon monoxide detectors are required near sleeping areas in homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. Rental properties are inspected by Toledo Housing Code Enforcement for functioning detectors. Landlords must test and maintain units between tenancies. Toledo Fire & Rescue runs a free smoke-alarm installation program for qualifying residents.
Missing or disabled smoke alarms in rental housing are code violations subject to fines and can delay occupancy approval. Tampering with alarms is a minor misdemeanor.
See how Toledo's smoke detectors rules stack up against other locations.
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