Victoria, Minn., Mun. Code art. 103-V (2026) § 103-120
Tampering Or Nonfunctioning Smoke Detector
Operative Text
Violation. Any occupant, owner or manager of a dwelling or rooming unit who willfully disables a smoke detector or causes it to be nonfunctioning is guilty of a misdemeanor. If the unit is occupied by more than one tenant, each tenant shall be held accountable. Notification. The occupant of a dwelling or rooming unit must notify the owner or manager of the unit within 24 hours of discovering that a detector is not functioning. The owner or manager shall take immediate action to render the detector operational or replace it. (Code 1998, § 8-121; Ord. No. 349, 4-12-2007)
Victoria's Rental Housing Code § 103-120 establishes two distinct obligations related to smoke detectors in dwelling and rooming units. First, it makes it a misdemeanor for any occupant, owner, or manager to willfully disable or cause a smoke detector to stop functioning — and in multi-tenant units, each tenant may be held individually accountable. Second, it creates a notification duty: once an occupant discovers a non-functioning detector, the owner or manager must be informed within 24 hours, and the owner or manager is then required to act immediately to repair or replace the device.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 103-120 of the Victoria Rental Housing Code, compliant property owners and managers treat smoke detector maintenance as a time-sensitive obligation. When notified by an occupant that a detector is not functioning, operators generally respond immediately — repairing or replacing the unit without delay rather than scheduling it as a routine maintenance item. Owners and managers also take care never to disable or interfere with smoke detectors themselves, as doing so constitutes a misdemeanor under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 103-120 of the Victoria Rental Housing Code gives occupants both responsibilities and protections regarding smoke detectors. If you discover a detector that is not working, the provision requires you to notify your owner or manager within 24 hours, after which the owner or manager is obligated to take immediate corrective action. Tenants who believe an owner or manager has failed to respond, or who have questions about their rights under this provision, may consider reaching out to local housing code enforcement authorities or a tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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