Cal. Civ. Code § 101.645
Smoke detectors.
Operative Text
101.645 Smoke detectors. (1) Definition. The definition of “smoke detector” under s. 101.145 (1) (c) also applies to this section. (2) Approval and installation. A smoke detector required under this section shall be approved and installed as required under s. 101.145 (2) and (3) (a). (3) Requirement. The owner of a dwelling shall install a functional smoke detector in the basement of the dwelling and on each floor level except the attic or storage area of each dwelling unit. The occupant of such a dwelling unit shall maintain any smoke detector in that unit, except that if any occupant who is not the owner, or any state, county, city, village or town officer, agent or employee charged under statute or municipal ordinance with powers or duties involving inspection of real or personal property, gives written notice to the owner that the smoke detector is not functional the owner shall provide, within 5 days after receipt of that notice, any maintenance necessary to make that smoke detector functional. (4) Inspection. Except as provided under s. 101.64 (2m), the department or a municipal authority may inspect a new dwelling, may inspect the common areas of a dwelling, and, at the request of the owner or renter, may inspect the interior of a dwelling unit in a dwelling to ensure compliance with this section.
Wisconsin Statute § 101.645 requires dwelling owners to install functional, approved smoke detectors in the basement and on each floor level (excluding attics and storage areas) of every dwelling unit. Day-to-day upkeep of detectors inside a unit is the occupant's responsibility, but if an occupant or a qualifying government official gives the owner written notice that a detector is not working, the owner must restore it to working order within five days of receiving that notice. The state or a local municipal authority may inspect common areas and new dwellings for compliance, and may also inspect the interior of a unit if the owner or renter requests it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wis. Stat. § 101.645, compliant dwelling owners ensure that approved smoke detectors are installed in the basement and on every applicable floor level of each unit before occupancy begins. Operators generally keep records of installation and any written notices received from occupants or government officials regarding non-functional detectors, and they arrange repairs within the five-day window the statute requires. Staying current with the approval and installation standards referenced in § 101.145 (2) and (3)(a) is a routine part of property management under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wis. Stat. § 101.645 places the responsibility for day-to-day smoke detector maintenance inside a dwelling unit on the occupant, but it also gives tenants a clear path when a detector stops working: providing written notice to the owner triggers the owner's legal obligation to make repairs within five days. Tenants who are unsure whether their building meets the installation requirements of § 101.645 may request an interior inspection by the relevant municipal authority or the state department. Local tenant-rights organizations or a Wisconsin legal aid office can help explain what options are generally available when an owner does not respond to a written maintenance notice.
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 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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