Fulton, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 475 § 475-28
Mandatory smoke detectors
Operative Text
A. Smoke detectors shall be required to be installed and maintained by the owner or person responsible for all existing one- or two-story residential dwellings, multiple dwellings and mixed-occupancy residential buildings within the City of Fulton as set forth herein. B. Smoke detector requirements. (1) Smoke detectors shall be either photoelectric or ionization type capable of sensing visible or invisible particles of combustion and providing a suitable audible alarm thereof. (2) Every detector required to be installed and maintained by this section must be installed and located so as to avoid dead air space and be reasonably free from false alarms. (3) In existing one- and two-story, one- and two-family residential dwellings and multiple dwellings not more than three stories in height which contain no more than six dwelling units, battery or AC smoke detectors shall be installed in each dwelling unit to protect sleeping areas in hallways and common areas on each floor level and in cellars and attics which contain storage and/or mechanical equipment. (4) In existing multiple dwellings which are four or more stories in height and/or have more than six dwelling units, battery or AC smoke detectors shall be installed in each dwelling unit to protect sleeping areas, and interconnected smoke detectors shall be installed in hallways and common areas on each floor level, including attics and cellars which contain storage and/or mechanical equipment. (5) In all existing mixed-use residential occupancies, regardless of the number of residential dwellings or height of the building, battery-operated or AC smoke detectors shall be installed in each dwelling unit to protect the sleeping areas, and interconnected smoke detectors shall be installed in the commercial space(s), in common areas on each floor level and in cellars and attics which contain storage and/or mechanical equipment. C. All smoke detectors shall be maintained in proper operating condition at all times. D. Effective date. (1) All new residential structures shall comply with the provisions of this section or of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, whichever is most restrictive, at the time of construction. (2) Existing one- and two-family structures, multiple dwellings and mixed-use residential structures shall comply with the provisions of this section by January 1, 1997.
Fulton, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 475 § 475-28 requires that smoke detectors be installed and kept in working order in all existing one- and two-story residential dwellings, multiple dwellings, and mixed-occupancy residential buildings within the City of Fulton. The specific type, placement, and interconnection requirements vary depending on the building's height, number of units, and occupancy mix — for example, larger or taller buildings must use interconnected detectors in common areas. Responsibility for installation and ongoing maintenance falls on the property owner or the person responsible for the building.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 475-28, property owners and managers in Fulton are generally expected to select detectors of the correct type (photoelectric or ionization), place them to avoid dead air space, and ensure they remain operational at all times. Compliant operators typically differentiate their installations based on building size: smaller one- and two-family structures require battery or AC detectors in sleeping areas, hallways, and common areas, while larger buildings of four or more stories or more than six units additionally require interconnected detectors in hallways and common areas on every floor. Mixed-use residential buildings carry their own interconnection requirements for commercial spaces and common areas regardless of size.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 475-28 establishes that the owner or responsible party — not the tenant — bears the duty to install and maintain smoke detectors in the required locations throughout the building. Tenants who believe detectors are missing, improperly placed, or not functioning may have grounds to raise a code-compliance concern with local housing or fire code enforcement authorities in Fulton. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with New York municipal housing codes can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what local channels are available for reporting violations.
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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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