Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide

Smoke Alarms

A properly maintained smoke alarm will work forever, right? Not so fast!

It's a Fact

Illinois Smoke Alarm Law | Effective January 1, 2023

The updated law requires Illinois residents to replace their old smoke alarms with the type that has a long-term, 10-year sealed battery. This would apply to residents that are still using alarms with removable batteries or alarms that are not hardwire.

What is the Updated Smoke Alarm Law?

  • Since 1988, all dwellings in Illinois have been required to have smoke alarms
  • In 2017, Public Act 100-0200 was passed to update the Illinois Smoke Detector Act to reflect advances in alarm technology
  • As of January 1, 2023, any new smoke alarm being installed within a single or multi-family home are required to be featured with a 10-year sealed battery
  • Smoke alarms in single or multi-family homes prior to January 1, 2023 may remain in place until they exceed 10 years from their manufactured date, fails to respond to operability tests, or otherwise malfunctions

Exemptions

  • Homes built after 1988 that already have hardwired smoke alarms
  • Home with wireless integrated alarms that use low-power radio frequency communications, Wi-Fi, or other Wireless Local Area Networking capabilities

Carbon Monoxide

Is your home protected by Carbon Monoxide Detectors? On January 1, 2007, Public Act 94-0741 "The Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act" will go into effect. This bill requires every dwelling unit to be equipped with at least one UL listed or FM approved carbon monoxide alarm in an operating condition within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes. The carbon monoxide alarms can be either battery powered, plug-in with battery back-up or wired into the structure's AC power line with secondary battery back-up. Carbon monoxide detectors are available for purchase at most hardware and home improvement stores.

It will be the responsibility of the owner of the structure to supply and install required alarms, provide written alarm testing, and maintenance information to the tenant and to insure all detectors are in proper working order at the time of initial possession. It will be the responsibility of the tenant to test and replace batteries, provide general maintenance for the alarm and to notify the owner, in writing, of any deficiencies they cannot correct.

The Village's Building Department will address this issue during "Change of Occupancy" inspections. The Fire Department will check for properly installed detectors when responding to calls. Homes that do not have an approved, working Carbon Monoxide Detector will be referred to the Fire Prevention Bureau for follow up.

A complete copy of the bill is available on the fire department's website. Anyone with questions can contact the fire department for further information.