Public Act 21-165 Summary

• State Fire Marshal and Codes and Standards Committee shall adopt and administer a Fire Safety Code based on nationally recognized model fire and life safety codes, with revisions required within 18 months of publication unless deemed unnecessary.

• Carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment required in new residential buildings for one or two families (permits issued after October 1, 2005) and all public or nonpublic school buildings; smoke detection and warning equipment required in residential buildings when systems are installed or replaced, with new buildings (permits after July 1, 2021) requiring equipment capable of operation using any power source permitted in the code.

• Hotels, motels, and inns must install or furnish smoke detection and warning equipment with visible alarms in at least 1% of units in establishments with 100+ units or rooms, and at least one visible alarm in establishments with fewer than 100 units or rooms.

• Penalties for Fire Safety Code and State Fire Prevention Code violations range from fines of $50 per day for continuation of violations to $200-$1,000 fines and up to six months imprisonment; local fire marshals may issue citations with 90% of proceeds remitted to municipalities.

• Home inspector regulations expanded to require reporting on presence of smoke detection and warning equipment, including location, quantity, testability, and verification that equipment is less than 10 years old; temporary fire marshal appointments permitted for up to 180 days when regular marshal position is vacant; small water heaters exempted from boiler regulations under specified capacity and installation conditions.