§ 8-2. Smoke alarms.

(a)

Every dwelling unit within a multi-family dwelling, every guest room in a hotel used for sleeping purposes and every rented dwelling unit in any other residential property shall, be provided with smoke alarms conforming to nationally recognized standards. Such smoke alarms shall be required in every dwelling unit in every type of residential property before any certificate of occupancy is granted or renewed. No building permit for alterations requiring the expenditure of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) shall be granted without the installation of smoke alarms.

(b)

The number of smoke alarms, and the manner and location of installation shall be set forth in the International Building Code or International Residential Code except that on rental property such alarms shall not be only battery-powered, but shall be wired directly into the power supply of the dwelling unit.

(c)

Smoke alarms shall be maintained in operating condition. Multi-family rental property shall be inspected annually by the fire department and/or building inspection department to determine whether smoke alarms are present and operating. If the fire department and/or building inspection department is refused access to any rental dwelling unit upon reasonable notice, and for purposes of this section, ten (10) calendar days shall be considered reasonable notice, the apartment owner will be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, fined not less than twenty-five ($25.00) or more than five hundred ($500.00) per dwelling unit If a smoke alarm required for a rental unit is inoperable, the rental unit owner or occupant will be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, fined not less than twenty-five ($25.00) or more than five hundred ($500.00) per dwelling unit Furthermore, should the owner or manager fail to come into compliance within thirty (30) days of re-inspection, the certificate of occupancy of that multi-family office will be automatically revoked, and the utility company serving such office shall be required to discontinue service thereto. Such certificate of occupancy and service shall not be restored until all smoke alarms comply with this section.

(d)

In the event that the smoke alarm is inoperable due to the absence of electricity of the dwelling unit, a battery-powered smoke alarm shall be temporarily installed until electrical power to the dwelling unit is restored.

(e)

Persons removing, disabling or possessing a smoke alarm with the battery removed or possessing a disabled smoke alarm shall be subject to immediate issuance of citation, with no warning period. It shall be an affirmative defense that the person provided written notification to the landlord or apartment manager of the defective smoke alarm.

(Ord. No. 2347, § 9, 12-13-16)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 2347, § 9, adopted Dec. 13, 2016, repealed the former section and enacted a new section as set out herein. The former section pertained to similar subject matter. For prior history, see Code Comparative Table.

Cross reference

Stopping, standing and parking, § 24-106 et seq.