Iowa Code § 10A.518 — IA Code / Title I / Chapter 10A / Section 10A.518
Smoke detectors.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section:

(1) (a) “Carbon monoxide alarm” means a device which detects carbon monoxide and which incorporates an alarm-sounding unit operated from a power supply either in the unit or obtained at the point of installation.

(1) (b) “Dormitory” means a residential building or portion of a building at an educational institution which houses students in rooms not individually equipped with cooking facilities.

(1) (c) “Fuel” means coal, kerosene, oil, fuel gases, or other petroleum products or hydrocarbon products such as wood that emit carbon monoxide as a by-product of combustion.

(1) (d) “Multiple-unit residential building” means a residential building, an apartment house, or a portion of a building or an apartment house with two or more units, hotel, motel, dormitory, or rooming house.

(1) (e) “Smoke detector” means a device which detects visible or invisible particles of combustion and which incorporates control equipment and an alarm-sounding unit operated from a power supply either in the unit or obtained at the point of installation.

(2) (a) Except as provided in subsection 4, multiple-unit residential buildings and single-family dwellings the construction of which is begun on or after July 1, 1991, shall include the installation of smoke detectors in compliance with the rules established by the director under subsection 5.

(2) (b) The rules shall require the installation of smoke detectors in existing single-family rental units and multiple-unit residential buildings. Existing single-family dwelling units shall be equipped with approved smoke detectors. A person who files for a homestead credit pursuant to chapter 425 shall certify that the single-family dwelling unit for which the credit is filed has a smoke detector installed in compliance with this section, or that one will be installed within thirty days of the date the filing for the credit is made. The director shall adopt rules and establish appropriate procedures to administer this subsection.

(2) (c) An owner or an owner’s agent of a multiple-unit residential building or single-family dwelling shall supply light-emitting smoke detectors, upon request, for a tenant who is deaf or hard of hearing.

(3) (a) Multiple-unit residential buildings and single-family dwellings, the construction of which is begun on or after July 1, 2018, and that have a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage, shall include the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in compliance with the rules established by the director under subsection 5.

(3) (b) The rules shall require the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in existing single-family rental units and multiple-unit residential buildings that have a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage. Existing single-family dwellings that have a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage shall be equipped with approved carbon monoxide alarms. For purposes of this paragraph, “approved carbon monoxide alarm” means a carbon monoxide alarm that meets the standards established by the underwriters’ laboratories or is approved by the director as established by rule under subsection 5. A person who files for a homestead credit pursuant to chapter 425 shall certify that the single-family dwelling for which the credit is filed and that has a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage, has carbon monoxide alarms installed in compliance with this section, or that such alarms will be installed within thirty days of the date the filing for the credit is made. The director shall adopt rules and establish appropriate procedures to administer this subsection.

(3) (c) An owner of a multiple-unit residential building or a single-family rental unit that has a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage, or an owner’s agent, shall supply light-emitting carbon monoxide alarms, upon request, for a tenant who is deaf or hard of hearing.

(3) (d) The owner of a building requiring the installation of carbon monoxide alarms under this subsection shall install a carbon monoxide alarm in a location as specified by rules established by the director under subsection 5, taking into account the number and location of all fuel sources in the building.

(4) This section does not require the following:

(4) (a) The installation of smoke detectors in multiple-unit residential buildings which, on July 1, 1981, are equipped with heat detection devices or a sprinkler system with alarms approved by the director.

(4) (b) The installation of smoke detectors in hotels, motels, and dormitories equipped with an automatic smoke detection system approved by the director.

(5) The director shall enforce the requirements of subsections 2 and 3 and may implement a program of inspections to monitor compliance with the provisions of those subsections. Upon inspection, the director shall issue a written notice to the owner or manager of a multiple-unit residential building or single-family rental unit informing the owner or manager of compliance or noncompliance with this section. The director may contract with any political subdivision without fee assessed to either the director or the political subdivision, for the performance of the inspection and notification responsibilities. The inspections authorized under this section are limited to the placement, repair, and operability of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Any broader inspection authority is not derived from this section. The director shall adopt rules under chapter 17A as necessary to enforce this section including rules concerning the placement of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms and the use of acceptable smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. The smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms shall display a label or other identification issued by an approved testing agency or another label specifically approved by the director.

(6) The inspection of a building or notification of compliance or noncompliance under this section is not the basis for a legal cause of action against the political subdivision, director, the director’s subordinates, chiefs of local fire departments, building inspectors, or other fire, building, or safety officials due to a failure to discover a latent defect in the course of the inspection.

(7) If a smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm is found to be inoperable, the owner or manager of the multiple-unit residential building or single-family rental unit shall correct the situation within thirty days after written notification to the owner or manager by the tenant, guest, roomer, director, director’s subordinates, chiefs of local fire departments, building inspectors, or other fire, building, or safety officials. If the owner or manager of a multiple-unit residential building or single-family rental unit fails to correct the situation within the thirty days the tenant, guest, or roomer may cause the smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm to be repaired or purchase and install a smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm required under this section and may deduct the repair cost or purchase price from the next rental payment or payments made by the tenant, guest, or roomer. However, a lessor or owner may require a lessee, tenant, guest, or roomer who has a residency of longer than thirty days to provide the battery for a battery operated smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm.

(8) No person may render inoperable a smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm which is required to be installed by this section by tampering.

(9) A person who violates a provision of this section or a rule adopted pursuant to this section is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

[81 Acts, ch 45, §1, 2; 82 Acts, ch 1157, §7]C83, §100.1883 Acts, ch 198, §13; 91 Acts, ch 64, §1 – 6; 94 Acts, ch 1078, §4; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §17; 2016 Acts, ch 1092, §1 – 4; 2020 Acts, ch 1102, §3, 4; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1493, 1711C2024, §10A.518