In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Long–life battery” means a nonrechargeable, nonreplaceable primary battery that is capable of operating a smoke alarm for at least 10 years in the normal condition. “Sleeping area” means a space that includes one or more sleeping rooms and a hall or common area immediately adjacent to any sleeping room. “Sleeping room” means an enclosed room with a bed arranged to be used as a bedroom. “Smoke alarm” means a single or multiple station device that detects visible or invisible products of combustion and includes a built–in internal alarm signal. “Smoke detector” means a system–connected smoke sensing device tied to a fire alarm control panel or a household fire warning panel.

In this section, “high–rise building” means a building where the floor of an occupiable story is greater than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. “High–rise building” does not include: a structure or building used exclusively for open–air parking; or a building used exclusively for agricultural purposes. This subtitle applies throughout the State, including Baltimore City. An automatic smoke alarm shall be provided in each sleeping area within each residential occupancy, including one– and two–family dwellings, lodging or rooming houses, hotels, dormitories, and apartment buildings, as defined in NFPA 101: Life Safety Code as adopted by the State Fire Prevention Commission. Beginning July 31, 2025, smoke detectors shall be installed in accordance with location and spacing requirements established by the National Fire Protection Association in each interior public corridor in a residential rental high–rise building. A county may not require upgrades to fire safety systems not specified in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph as a condition of issuing a permit for the installation of smoke detectors required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph. In this paragraph, “substantial renovation” means permanent alterations that: are intended to enhance the value of a building; cost an amount equal to or greater than 40% of the value of the building as assessed by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; and meet the criteria for substantial renovation under any applicable local law. Beginning October 1, 2026, automatic fire sprinklers shall be installed in accordance with NFPA Life Safety Code and NFPA standards in each residential rental high–rise building that is undergoing a substantial renovation that receives building permits on or after October 1, 2026. In determining whether a proposed substantial renovation is intended to enhance the value of a building exclusive of land value, a county may consider building improvements completed over a 4–year time period from the date of the initial building permit. A substantially renovated residential rental high–rise building shall also have the following fire protection and life safety features: smoke alarms in every sleeping area; stairwells enclosed with at least 2–hour fire resistance rated construction with at least 90–minute fire resistance rated, self–closing, and self–latching doors; at least 20–minute fire resistance rated corridor doors with appropriately rated corridor walls; smokeproof exit enclosures via natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation incorporating a vestibule, or pressurizing the stair enclosure; at least two smoke compartments on each floor; and inadequate fire pumps replaced when necessary. Smoke alarms shall: be installed in accordance with NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code as referenced by the State Fire Prevention Code; be listed and labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory to comply with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 217, “Standard for safety for single and multiple station smoke alarms”; be suitable for sensing visible or invisible products of combustion; and sound an alarm suitable to warn the occupants. Local jurisdictions may adopt smoke alarm regulations that are more stringent than the provisions of this subtitle.

This section applies only to new residential units constructed on or after July 1, 2013. At least one smoke alarm shall be installed in each sleeping room, in the hallway or common area outside of sleeping rooms, and in the hallway or common area on each level within a residential dwelling unit, including basements and excluding unoccupied attics, garages, and crawl spaces. If two or more smoke alarms are required within a residential unit, the smoke alarms shall be arranged so that activation of any one smoke alarm causes alarm activation of all other required smoke alarms within the residential unit. Each smoke alarm required by this section shall operate on an alternating current (AC) primary source of electric power with a battery backup or an approved alternate secondary power source. In one– and two–family dwellings, a smoke detector installed as a part of an approved household fire alarm system is an acceptable alternative to the AC powered–battery backup smoke alarm required by this section, if the smoke detector is installed and located as specified in subsection (b) of this section. A smoke detector installed as a part of an approved fire alarm system is an acceptable alternative to the AC powered–battery backup smoke alarm required by this section, if the smoke detector is installed and located as specified in subsection (b) of this section.

At least one smoke alarm shall be provided in each residential sleeping area. Smoke alarms required in one– and two–family dwellings constructed before July 1, 1975, shall be battery powered or alternating current (AC) primary electric powered units. Smoke alarms required in one– and two–family dwellings constructed between July 1, 1975, and June 30, 1990, shall be alternating current (AC) primary electric powered units. Smoke alarms required in multifamily residential occupancies including apartments, lodging or rooming houses, dormitories, and hotels shall be alternating current (AC) primary electric powered units. Smoke alarms required in a residential occupancy constructed on or after July 1, 1990, shall be alternating current (AC) primary electric powered units with battery backup or an approved alternate secondary power source. At least one smoke alarm shall be installed in each level of a residential occupancy constructed on or after January 1, 1989, including basements and excluding unoccupied attics, garages, and crawl spaces. If two or more smoke alarms are required within a residential unit constructed on or after January 1, 1989, the smoke alarms shall be arranged so that activation of any one smoke alarm causes alarm activation of all other required smoke alarms within the residential unit. Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, smoke alarm placement in a one– or two–family dwelling shall be upgraded to comply with paragraph (3) of this subsection in existing residential occupancies when any one of the following occurs: the existing smoke alarms exceed 10 years from the date of manufacture; the existing smoke alarms fail to respond to operability tests or otherwise malfunction; there is a change of tenant in a residential unit and the residential unit has not previously been equipped in accordance with this subtitle with sealed long–life battery smoke alarms with silence/hush button features within the 10 years preceding the change of tenant; or a building permit is issued for an additional residential unit or alteration to a residential unit. Smoke alarm placement shall be upgraded to comply with paragraph (3) of this subsection in all existing residential occupancies on or before January 1, 2018. Upgraded smoke alarm placement shall include the following: a minimum of one smoke alarm on each level of the residential unit, including basements and excluding unoccupied attics, garages, and crawl spaces; smoke alarms shall be alternating current (AC) primary powered units with battery backup, except as follows: smoke alarms in one– and two–family dwellings constructed before July 1, 1975, may be battery operated; and smoke alarms required in new locations by this section, if smoke alarms did not previously exist, may be battery operated; and if battery operated smoke alarms are permitted, only sealed, tamper resistant units incorporating a silence/hush button and using long–life batteries may be used. In one– and two–family dwellings, a smoke detector installed as a part of an approved household fire alarm system is an acceptable alternative to the AC powered–battery backup smoke alarms required by this section, if the smoke detectors are installed and located as specified in subsection (a) of this section. A smoke detector installed as a part of an approved fire alarm system is an acceptable alternative to the AC powered–battery backup smoke alarms required by this section, if the smoke detectors are installed and located as specified in subsection (a) of this section.

Each sleeping room occupied by a deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing individual shall be provided with a smoke alarm suitable to alert the deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing individual. On written request on behalf of a tenant who is deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing, a sleeping room occupied by a deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing individual shall be provided with an approved notification appliance designed to alert deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing individuals. The landlord shall provide a notification appliance that, when activated, provides a signal that is sufficient to warn the deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing tenant in those sleeping rooms. The landlord may not require that a tenant: pay for the purchase or installation of a notification appliance; or provide any supporting documentation or other form of evidence with a written request for a notification appliance. Hotels and motels shall have available at least one approved notification appliance for the deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing individual for each 50 units or fraction of 50 units. Hotels and motels shall post in a conspicuous place at the registration desk a permanent sign that states the availability of smoke alarm notification appliances for the deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing individual. Hotels and motels may require a refundable deposit for notification appliances for the deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing individual. The amount of the deposit may not exceed the value of the notification appliance. A landlord may not require reimbursement from a tenant for the cost of a smoke alarm required under this section.

Smoke alarm requirements shall be enforced by the State Fire Marshal, a county or municipal fire marshal, a fire chief, the Baltimore City Fire Department, or any other designated authority having jurisdiction. The building permit applicant is responsible for the proper installation of required smoke alarms in residential occupancies constructed on or after July 1, 2013. If a building permit is not required, the general contractor shall bear the responsibility described in paragraph (1) of this subsection. The landlord or property owner is responsible for the installation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of smoke alarms required by this subtitle. Occupants of a residential occupancy may not remove or tamper with a required smoke alarm or otherwise render the smoke alarm inoperative. Testing of smoke alarms is the responsibility of the occupant of the residential unit. A tenant shall notify the landlord in writing of the failure or malfunction of a required smoke alarm. The written notification required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be delivered by certified mail, return receipt requested to the landlord, or by hand delivery to the landlord or the landlord’s agent, at the address used for the payment of rent. If the delivery of the notification is made by hand as described in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the landlord or the landlord’s agent shall provide to the tenant a written receipt for the delivery. The landlord shall provide written acknowledgment of the notification and shall repair or replace the smoke alarm within 5 calendar days after the notification. If a residential unit does not contain alternating current (AC) primary electric power, battery operated smoke alarms or smoke alarm operation on an approved alternate source of power may be permitted. Battery operated smoke alarms shall be sealed, tamper resistant units incorporating a silence/hush button and using long–life batteries. A smoke alarm may be combined with a carbon monoxide alarm if the device complies with: this subtitle; Title 12 of this article; and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standards 217 and 2034.

This section does not apply to: a fire alarm, a smoke detector, a smoke alarm, or an ancillary component that is: electronically connected as a part of a listed centrally monitored or supervised alarm system; or capable of sending and receiving notifications by: a low–power radio frequency wireless communication signal; or a wireless local area networking capability; or any other device that the State Fire Marshal designates as exempt through the regulatory process. On or after October 1, 2018, a person may not sell a battery operated smoke alarm in the State for compliance with this subtitle unless the smoke alarm is a sealed, tamper resistant unit incorporating a silence/hush button and using one or more long–life batteries.

Failure to comply with this subtitle may not be used as a policy defense in the settlement of a property insurance claim.

If the State Fire Marshal or other designated authority with jurisdiction finds the absence of operating, required smoke detectors, the State Fire Marshal or other authority shall issue a smoke alarm installation order to the responsible landlord, owner, or occupant. The responsible person shall comply with a smoke alarm installation order within 5 calendar days.

A person may not knowingly violate this subtitle. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both. A person who violates § 9–106.1 of this subtitle is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.