The fire code adopted by the City of North Charleston requires that owners/landlords of rental property provide smoke alarms in property rented or leased or otherwise provided to the public for housing or sleeping accommodations. Smoke Alarm Regulations For Rental Property can be located at section 74-273 of the International Fire Code 2018, IBC 2012, IRC 2018 and section 74-274 of the International Fire Code 2018, IBC 2012, IRC 2018. These code requirements are not intended to burden property owners but, rather, to provide a minimum of life safety protection to tenants.
Following is a list of responsibilities regarding the placement of smoke alarms in rental property and the relevant code references. These are the general regulations that cover the smoke alarm requirements for residential rental property. There are additional regulations which cover transient accommodations and other types of rental units. Please contact the fire administration office if you have any questions regarding your responsibility for the installation of smoke alarms in your rental property.
Sec. 74-271. Responsibilities of Owner
The owner of the building shall supply and install all required smoke alarms. The owner shall test and maintain in a fully operable condition all smoke alarms in common areas. No owner shall rent, lease or let any dwelling unit or room that does not have functional and working alarms at the time of occupancy. The tenant shall sign a statement signifying that all smoke alarms were in fully operative condition on the date of lease. The owner shall be responsible for providing each tenant with written information regarding alarm testing and maintenance. The owner shall not be liable for any damages caused from the smoke alarm being tampered with or disabled in any way by the tenant.
Sec. 74-272. Responsibilities of Tenant
The tenant shall provide and maintain functional batteries for each battery powered smoke alarm and shall not disconnect the electrical source from electrically powered smoke alarms. The tenant shall not remove or relocate any smoke alarm installed by the owner. The tenant shall test and maintain alarms within the dwelling unit or room and notify the owner or agent in writing of any deficiencies.
Sec. 74-273. Location
Smoke alarms shall be located to comply with the International Fire Code 2018, the International Building Code 2018 and the International Residential Code 2018.
Sec. 74-274. Quality
Smoke alarms shall comply with the standards set forth in the International Fire Code 2018, the International Building Code 2018 and the International Residential Code 2018.
