Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

My Condo Assn. tells me that I have to have all smoke detectors hard wired. In CA. I thought that the CA. building code basically says that new construction has to be hard wired , but battery powered smoke detectors are ok for retro fit installations. Hard wiring smoke detectors for my 2 story 4 bedroom Condo will be quite a large chunk of change. Can my HOA really force me to spend all that cash to go beyond what is acceptable for the state of CA.


Asked on 8/19/16, 8:50 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Not sure about the correct "legal" answer, but a possible compromise might be to use "plug-in" smoke detectors which use a/c rather than batteries alone. You could perhaps even get close to a hard-wired condition by using a clip or clamp of some kind to prevent easy unplugging. A further step might be to buy plug-in units with cords, then cut off the plugs and attach the wires permanently inside outlet boxes, preferably selecting ones that are normally behind furniture, so the wires emerging from behind the cover plates wouldn't be an eyesore. Negotiate first, and have a licensed electrician do the work if the HOA approves. This'll at least avoid plaster and paint work.

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Answered on 8/21/16, 3:43 pm


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