California landlord smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector requirements

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Where is a California landlord required to install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector? 

Let’s start with smoke alarms…

Smoke alarms should be installed in the following locations:

  • In each sleeping room.
  • Outside each sleeping area in the immeditave vicinity of the bedrooms.
  • On each additional story of the dwelling, including basementsand habitable attics but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level. When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit.

Read more about California smoke detector law here

What about carbon monoxide detectors? Here is the legal requirement for carbon monoxide installation:

On or before July 1, 2011, for existing single-family dwellings, and on or before Jan. 1, 2013, for all other existing dwelling units intended for human occupancy, the owner shall install a carbon monoxide device, approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13263, in each existing dwelling unit having a fossil fuel burning heater or appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage.

Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed in the following locations:

  • Carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling units shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s published instructions in the following locations:
  • Outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
  • On every occupiable level of a dwelling unit, including basements.
  • Where a fuel-burning appliance is located within a bedroom or its attached bathroom, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in the bedroom.

California Health and Safety Code 13260-13263 and 17296-17296.2

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