Home Fire Safety Visit Program

The dates of Construction Permits dictate the type and location of Smoke Alarms. Smoke alarms powered by batteries alone are allowed if the home was built before building codes required hard-wired units. Effective January 1, 2018, these battery-only smoke alarms are required to be equipped with a 10-year, long-life nonremovable battery. For homes constructed after July, 1975 Code requirements mandate that smoke alarms be hard-wired directly into the home’s electrical system and have a battery back-up to keep the unit functioning during a power outage. To know what type of smoke alarms you need, gather the answers to these questions:

1. What YEAR was the property built?
2. Is the current system hard-wired with a battery back-up (the battery back-up is in the event of a power outage) or battery-only (not connected into your home’s electrical system) which are traditionally found in pre-1975 houses? 
3. Where are the smoke alarms located? 

The department does not install or replace hardwired smoke alarms. To determine what your home requires see smoke alarm requirments for more information.

Code: Residential Smoke Alarm Requirements (English)
Code: Residential Smoke Alarm Requirements (Spanish)

Residents of Montgomery County, Maryland may request a free home safety visit. The installation of free alarms is targeted to high risk individuals that include older adults and senior citizens, individuals with mobility, vision, or hearing impairments and residents who may have a disability or be economically challenged. A combination of factors typically increases the risk of fires significantly.

Do you rent?

• Review your renter’s agreement to determine the responsibility for providing and maintaining working smoke alarms in your residence. There are State requirements that address the legal requirements of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rental units.
• Read the section dedicated to rental properties before requesting a home safety visit.

Is this a rental property? In Maryland, landlords, property management companies, or property owners are legally required to provide, install, and replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Tenants play a crucial role in ensuring rental property safety by maintaining these alarms. It is the responsibility of tenants to keep alarms in good working condition and to promptly report any malfunctions or issues to the landlord or property manager. 

Smoke alarms are an important aspect of fire safety. Deaf and hearing impaired individuals cannot rely on traditional audible smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to alert them to a potential fire emergency. The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service has a limited number of these specialized alarms available to home owners in Montgomery County. Please indicate on the request form that you need information regarding these types of alarms.

A representative from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will check your home’s smoke alarms to see if they are working properly. Back-up batteries in hard-wired smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms will be changed if necessary and alarms found to be outdated (over 10 years from the manufacturer date printed on the alarm) or not working properly will be recommended for replacement. Trained MCFRS personnel will identify hazards that are often overlooked in homes, assist with home fire escape plans, and discuss trending fire safety topics. In most cases, a few simple maintenance and housekeeping procedures can make your home safer. Personnel will also fully explain how your smoke alarm functions and how to maintain it.

To have a home safety check or smoke alarms checked/installed, a family member who is 18 years or older must be home. The family is asked to make a commitment to maintain and test their smoke alarms monthly, develop a home fire escape plan, and practice escape routes regularly.