Retrofitting of existing properties to comply with the new California Building Code will be triggered only when a permit is required and not by the sale of the property. The following is a copy of the State Fire Marshal's bulletin. For new construction only, the smoke detector must be hard-wired with a battery backup. For all other dwellings, the smoke detector may be battery operated. Whenever a sale or exchange of a single family dwelling occurs, the seller must provide the buyer with a written statement indicating that the proerty is in compliance with current California law concerning smoke detectors.
Some local ordinances impose more stringent smoke detector requirements than state law.
Therefore, affected parties should check with the local city or county building and safety department regarding the smoke detector requirements. The information contained herein is believed accurate. It is intended to provide general answers to general questions and is not intended as a substitute for individual legal advice. Advice in specific situations may differ depending upon a wide variety of factors. Therefore, readers with specific legal questions should seek the advice of an attorney.