Cal. Civ. Code § 22-11-18-5.5
Violation by landlord; offenses
Operative Text
Sec. 5.5. A landlord who violates section 3.5 of this chapter: (1) at the time the landlord delivers a rental unit to a tenant; or (2) if the smoke detector is hard wired into the rental unit's electrical system, by failing to repair or replace the inoperable smoke detector not later than seven (7) days after receiving written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the need to repair or replace the inoperable smoke detector under section 3.5(e)(2) of this chapter; commits a Class B infraction. However, the offense is a Class A infraction if the landlord has a prior violation for an offense under this section.
Indiana Code § 22-11-18-5.5 establishes that a landlord commits a Class B infraction when they fail to meet the smoke detector requirements of section 3.5 of the same chapter — either at the time a rental unit is handed over to a tenant, or by not repairing or replacing a hard-wired smoke detector within seven days of receiving proper written notice by certified mail. The infraction is elevated to a Class A infraction if the landlord has a prior violation under this same section. These are civil infractions under Indiana law, not criminal offenses, but they carry associated penalties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 22-11-18-5.5, compliant operators generally ensure that all required smoke detectors are functional at the moment a rental unit is delivered to a new tenant. For hard-wired smoke detectors, operators typically track written repair notices received by certified mail and complete any necessary repair or replacement within the seven-day window the statute specifies. A prior violation under this section can elevate a subsequent infraction from Class B to Class A, which generally carries a higher penalty.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 22-11-18-5.5 gives tenants a framework for addressing smoke detector failures by their landlord — specifically, sending written notice by certified mail with return receipt requested when a hard-wired smoke detector needs repair or replacement. If a landlord fails to act within seven days of receiving that notice, or delivers a unit without a functioning smoke detector, the landlord may be committing a civil infraction under this provision. Tenants may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand what enforcement or complaint options are available under Indiana law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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