Cal. Civ. Code § 17920.8
California Health and Safety Code
Operative Text
In addition to any other requirements for location of exit signs or devices in hotels, motels, or apartment houses, the State Fire Marshal shall adopt building standards establishing minimum requirements for the placement of distinctive devices, signs, or other means that identify exits and can be felt or seen near the floor. Exit sign technologies permitted by the model building code upon which the California Building Standards Code is based, shall be permitted. These building standards shall apply to all newly constructed occupancies subject to this section for which a building permit is issued, or construction is commenced, where no building permit is issued on or after January 1, 1989.
California Health & Safety Code § 17920.8 requires the State Fire Marshal to establish minimum standards for exit-identification devices in hotels, motels, and apartment houses that are detectable near floor level—either by sight or touch—supplementing any other applicable exit-sign rules. Technologies already approved under the model code underlying the California Building Standards Code are also acceptable under this provision. These standards apply to newly constructed occupancies in those categories where a building permit was issued, or construction began without a permit, on or after January 1, 1989.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of hotels, motels, and apartment houses constructed or permitted on or after January 1, 1989 are generally expected to ensure that exit identification complies with the floor-level standards established under Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17920.8. Compliant operators typically verify that exit devices or signs are positioned and designed so they can be perceived near the floor—whether visually or by touch—in addition to meeting any other exit-sign requirements. Reviewing the applicable California Building Standards Code provisions and coordinating with local building or fire officials helps confirm that installed exit technologies meet the permitted categories under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17920.8 establishes a right to live in newly constructed apartment houses where exits are marked with devices or signs that can be seen or felt near the floor, providing an additional layer of safety beyond standard exit-sign rules. If floor-level exit identification appears absent or inadequate in a building permitted or constructed after January 1, 1989, tenants may have grounds to raise this as a habitability or code-compliance concern. General enforcement paths include contacting the local building or fire department to request an inspection, reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance, or raising the issue as a defense in relevant housing proceedings.
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 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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