Fire Department

Building Owner’s Responsibilities

• Install a smoke alarm hardwired into the building electrical system with a battery for emergency backup power, OR install a smoke alarm which is powered by a non-replaceable, non-removable battery that is capable of powering the smoke alarm for a minimum of ten years. The battery for the hardwired AC Voltage is not required to be a 10-year battery.
• Replace the battery in all smoke alarms each time the lease is renewed or once a year, whichever period of time is shorter, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Replace broken, damaged, or missing smoke alarms with smoke alarms that meet these stated requirements.
• Provide all tenants with the manufacturer’s maintenance and testing instructions.
• Provide tenants with fire safety educational materials, as prescribed by the Fire Chief, each time a lease is renewed and at least once every 12 months for every continuing tenant.
• Have your tenants review, complete, and sign an Owner & Tenant Agreement per Madison General Ordinance 32.06(4).

When notified of a broken, damaged, or missing smoke alarm, building owners have five days to repair or replace the alarms. Any battery-powered alarms found to be inoperable shall be replaced by the owner with smoke alarms that meet the requirements in MGO 34.907(2)(a).

Tenant's Responsibilities

• Test all smoke alarms in your unit once a month.
• Notify the owner in writing if a smoke alarm becomes inoperable. The owner has five days from receipt of notice to repair or replace the inoperable alarm(s).
• Complete and sign the Owner & Tenant Agreement per Madison General Ordinance 32.06(4).
  • Contrato de propietario e inquilino en español (Owner & Tenant Agreement in Spanish).
  • 業主和租戶的煙霧報警器要求 (Owner & Tenant Agreement in Chinese)
  • Cov Cai Hais Txog Kev Yuav Tsum Muaj Lub Tswb Ceeb Toom Pa Ncho Rau Cov Tswv Tsev Thiab Cov Neeg Xauj Nyob (Owner & Tenant Agreement in Hmong)

Important Reminders

All smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years unless the manufacturer specifies a different service life. No person shall tamper with, remove, alter, damage, or otherwise render any smoke alarm inoperable. Dwelling units and properties may not be occupied, used, or rented if it does not comply with Madison General Ordinance 34.907, “Fire Alarm and Detection Systems.” Failure to comply with this ordinance may result in a maximum fine of $187 for the first violation.