Huntington, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 124 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 124-51
Power source
Operative Text
(A) In all residential or residentially-used dwellings, single-station smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring, provided that such wiring is served from a commercial source and shall be equipped with a battery backup. Smoke alarms shall emit a signal when the batteries are low. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than as required for over-current protection. It shall be unlawful for an owner or person-in-charge of property to fail, refuse or neglect to provide or maintain smoke alarms which do not meet the requirements of this article. (B) Exception. Smoke alarms are permitted to be solely battery operated in buildings where no construction is taking place, buildings that are not served from a commercial power source and in existing areas of buildings undergoing alterations or repairs that do not result in the removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure, unless there is an attic, crawl space or basement available which could provide access for building wiring without the removal of interior finishes.
Under Huntington, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 124 § 124-51, residential dwellings must generally have smoke alarms that draw primary power from the building's permanent wiring and include a battery backup, with a low-battery warning signal. The wiring must be continuous and may not include a disconnecting switch except for over-current protection. An exception allows battery-only smoke alarms in buildings without commercial power, buildings where no construction is occurring, or in areas undergoing limited renovations that do not expose interior wall or ceiling structures—unless accessible attic, crawl, or basement space makes wiring feasible without removing finishes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Huntington, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 124 § 124-51 generally ensure that smoke alarms in residential units are hardwired to the building's permanent electrical system and fitted with a functioning battery backup that signals when power is low. Compliant operators confirm that no disconnecting switch interrupts the wiring outside of over-current protection devices. When renovations are planned, operators typically assess whether the scope of work triggers the hardwiring requirement or qualifies for the battery-only exception, particularly by evaluating whether attic, crawl space, or basement access could allow wiring without disturbing interior finishes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 124-51 of Huntington's Code of Ordinances gives tenants a basis to expect that smoke alarms in their residential dwelling meet specific power-source standards, including hardwired installation with battery backup in most circumstances. If a tenant believes smoke alarms are missing, improperly powered, or otherwise noncompliant, that concern can generally be raised with the local building or code enforcement office in Huntington. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand how a landlord's failure to maintain compliant smoke alarms under this provision may relate to habitability rights or other available remedies.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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