For 2026, as for previous years, landlords must adhere to state mandated rules for smoke detectors in all types of rental units. This includes detached homes, condos, townhomes and apartments.
Requirements – Working battery type or hard wired smoke detectors in each bedroom, bedroom hallway and one each living level of the rental unit.
For apartments and multifamily residences, California generally requires smoke detectors to be hard wired only. This applies to combination detectors also.
If replacing a non-working detector, for battery (non hard wired) type detectors, a smoke detector with a 10 year battery (a non-replaceable battery) is required. For the replacement of hard wired smoke detectors, a hard wired detector is required.
Separate carbon monoxide detectors may be battery type only, and are not required to be hard wired. Plug in type CO detectors also work great.
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