Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7 § 7-8-47
Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms (Rochester Housing Code)
Operative Text
Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be tested and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Smoke alarms that do not function shall be replaced. Smoke alarms installed in one- and two-family dwellings shall be replaced not more than ten years from the date of manufacture marked on the unit, or shall be replaced if the date of manufacture cannot be determined.
Under Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-8-47, smoke alarms in residential buildings must be regularly tested and kept in working order following the manufacturer's guidelines. Any smoke alarm that stops functioning must be replaced. In one- and two-family dwellings specifically, smoke alarms must be replaced within ten years of their manufacture date as marked on the unit, or immediately if that date cannot be determined.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-8-47 places the responsibility on property owners and managers to ensure smoke alarms are tested and maintained per manufacturer instructions. Compliant operators typically keep records of smoke alarm installation dates, inspect units regularly, and replace any alarm that fails or reaches the ten-year manufacture-date threshold in one- and two-family dwellings. Checking the manufacture date stamped on each unit and replacing alarms with no legible date are standard practices under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Rochester, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 7-8-47 establishes that tenants in one- and two-family dwellings are entitled to smoke alarms that are functional, properly maintained, and no more than ten years old from the manufacture date. If a smoke alarm appears non-functional, lacks a readable manufacture date, or seems overdue for replacement, tenants may raise this as a housing code concern with local code enforcement or a tenant-rights organization. Documenting the condition of smoke alarms—such as photographing the unit and its date stamp—can support any complaint filed under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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