Cal. Civ. Code § 32-31-5-7
Written acknowledgement by tenant
Operative Text
Sec. 7. (a) At the time a landlord delivers a rental unit to a tenant, the landlord shall require the tenant to acknowledge in writing that the rental unit is equipped with a functional smoke detector. (b) A landlord and a tenant may not waive, in a rental agreement or a separate writing, the requirements under IC 22-11-18-3.5 concerning smoke detectors.
Indiana Code § 32-31-5-7 establishes two related rules about smoke detectors in rental housing. First, at the moment a landlord hands over a rental unit, the tenant must sign a written acknowledgment confirming that the unit has a working smoke detector. Second, neither the landlord nor the tenant is permitted to waive the smoke detector requirements set out in IC 22-11-18-3.5, whether through language in a lease or in any separate document.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 32-31-5-7, compliant landlords obtain a signed written acknowledgment from each tenant at the time of unit delivery confirming that a functional smoke detector is in place — this is typically handled as part of the move-in documentation process. Operators also review their lease agreements and any addenda to ensure no language attempts to waive the smoke detector requirements referenced in IC 22-11-18-3.5, since such waivers are void regardless of how they are worded. Maintaining a copy of the signed acknowledgment in the tenant's file is a common practice for demonstrating compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 32-31-5-7 gives tenants the right to receive a rental unit equipped with a working smoke detector, and the written acknowledgment you sign at move-in serves as a record of that condition at delivery. Importantly, no lease clause or separate agreement can strip away the smoke detector protections established under IC 22-11-18-3.5 — any such waiver language is unenforceable. Tenants who believe these requirements have not been met may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, raising the issue with a local housing or code enforcement office, or consulting an attorney to understand available options.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation