Waterford, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 134 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 134-2
Installation
Operative Text
At least one single-station smoke-detecting alarm device located on or near the ceiling, shall be installed: A. Adjacent to sleeping spaces within rented dwelling units. B. In sleeping rooms for transient occupancies (hotels, motels, lodging houses and dormitory buildings), except that such devices shall not be required for transient occupancies in buildings where: (1) A fire- and smoke-detecting system (total coverage) is required by the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and is installed; (2) A sprinkler system (total coverage) is installed in accordance with said code; or (3) Smoke-detecting alarm devices are installed in all corridors, hallways, stairways and other exitways of the building, and heat detectors are installed in furnace rooms, refuse rooms, storage rooms, janitors' closets, lounges, garages, laundry rooms, mechanical rooms, kitchens and other similar ancillary spaces and in cellars adjacent to any interior stairways, and activation of any one of the detectors shall cause an alarm to be sounded throughout the entire building.
Waterford, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 134 § 134-2 requires that at least one ceiling-mounted or near-ceiling smoke-detecting alarm device be installed adjacent to sleeping areas in rented dwelling units. For transient occupancies such as hotels, motels, lodging houses, and dormitories, the device must be placed inside sleeping rooms, though this specific requirement can be satisfied alternatively by a total-coverage fire-and-smoke detection system, a total-coverage sprinkler system, or a comprehensive network of corridor and ancillary-space detectors that triggers a building-wide alarm. The rule establishes minimum placement standards intended to ensure early warning of smoke near where occupants sleep.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental dwelling units in Waterford are generally expected to ensure that at least one smoke-detecting alarm device is installed on or near the ceiling adjacent to every sleeping space, as required by ch. 134 § 134-2. Owners of transient-occupancy properties such as hotels or dormitories should verify whether their building qualifies for one of the three alternative compliance pathways—total-coverage detection, total-coverage sprinklers, or a building-wide corridor-and-ancillary-space detector network—before relying on those alternatives. Maintaining documentation of installed systems and their compliance with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code is a practice commonly associated with compliant property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Waterford, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 134 § 134-2, tenants in rented dwelling units have an interest in confirming that a smoke-detecting alarm device is present on or near the ceiling adjacent to their sleeping area. If a device appears to be missing or improperly placed, tenants may consider documenting the condition and reaching out to the local code enforcement or building department to report a potential violation. Tenant-rights organizations can also provide general information about how this type of housing code requirement intersects with habitability standards and 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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.