What are California's smoke alarm and carbon monoxide rules for apartment owners?

Who does what

From 13113.7, 17926 and 17926.1 as published on 2026-10-30. Cities can add rules. This is not legal advice.

This is different from some other states, where tenants handle batteries. If you also own in Texas, Florida or New York, see smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements for rental units; if you own in Washington, the tenant maintains them there, as explained in Washington move-in notices.

What kind of alarm to buy

Under section 13114, since July 1, 2014 a smoke alarm that runs only on a battery must have a nonreplaceable, nonremovable battery that lasts at least 10 years to be approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal. Since January 1, 2015 listed smoke alarms must also show the date of manufacture, have a place to write the installation date, and include a hush feature. Hard-wired alarms and alarms tied into a fire alarm panel follow other rules.

Section 13113.7 required owners of rented buildings to add smoke alarms by January 1, 2016 where needed to match current building standards for location. Existing alarms did not have to be replaced unless inoperable. And when you pull a permit for alterations, repairs or additions over $1,000 in a unit, the city will not sign off until the required smoke alarms are State Fire Marshal listed devices.

For carbon monoxide devices, section 17926.2 says a newer building standard does not force you to replace a device you already installed until you pull a permit for work over $1,000 in that unit.

Getting into units to test

Owners may enter to install, repair, test and maintain alarms. For smoke alarms, section 13113.7 asks for reasonable written notice and entry during normal business hours, with 24 hours presumed reasonable. For carbon monoxide devices, section 17926.1 points to Civil Code section 1954, which has the same 24-hour presumption and asks you to state the date, approximate time and purpose.

Testing every unit once a year, on the same days as another visit such as filter changes, keeps the number of entries down and gives you a record.

Common mistakes

• Putting battery testing in the lease as the tenant's job. In California the owner of a rented apartment building is responsible for testing and maintaining smoke alarms.
• Skipping the check at turnover. Both laws require working devices when a new tenancy starts. Test every alarm before the keys are handed over and write down the date.
• Buying alarms with replaceable batteries. A battery-only smoke alarm must have a sealed 10-year battery to be State Fire Marshal listed.
• Forgetting carbon monoxide in all-electric buildings with an attached garage or a fireplace. Those features trigger the requirement too.
• Ignoring the manufacture date. Write the installation date on each alarm and plan replacements before the end of its rated life.

Example a made-up 20 unit building has two smoke alarms per unit and one carbon monoxide device in each of the 12 units with gas ranges. That is 40 smoke alarms and 12 CO devices. At a made-up $30 per smoke alarm and $35 per CO device, replacing them all costs 40 x $30 + 12 x $35 = $1,200 + $420 = $1,620. Spread over a 10-year life, that is $162 a year, or about $13.50 a month for the building.

Alarm checks with DoorKeeping

Add an alarm check to each turnover work order in DoorKeeping, and record yearly tests as work orders so each unit has a dated history. Tenants can report a beeping or broken alarm, which becomes a work order you can send to a vendor by link. You can email entry notices to tenants from DoorKeeping, and alarm purchases are coded to supplies or repairs in the property's books, with every payment waiting for your approval. DoorKeeping costs $2 per unit per month, with no other fees.

Sources

1. California Health and Safety Code section 13113.7 (smoke alarms), read Oct 30, 2026
2. California Health and Safety Code section 13114 (listing standards, 10-year batteries), read Oct 30, 2026
3. California Health and Safety Code section 17926 (carbon monoxide devices), read Oct 30, 2026
4. California Health and Safety Code section 17926.1 (rental duties for CO devices), read Oct 30, 2026
5. California Health and Safety Code section 17926.2 (replacing CO devices after new standards), read Oct 30, 2026
6. California Civil Code section 1954 (landlord entry), read Oct 30, 2026

Questions

Who is responsible for smoke alarm batteries in a California apartment?

The owner. Section 13113.7 makes the owner of a rented apartment building responsible for testing and maintaining smoke alarms; the tenant must report an alarm that does not work.

Do California rentals need carbon monoxide detectors?

Yes, in units with a fossil fuel heater or appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage, under section 17926. They must work when the tenant moves in.

Do smoke alarms in California need a 10-year battery?

A smoke alarm that runs only on a battery must have a sealed battery lasting at least 10 years to be State Fire Marshal listed, under section 13114.

What is the fine for missing alarms in California?

Up to $200 per offense for smoke alarms. For carbon monoxide devices, up to $200 after a 30-day notice to correct.