Cal. Civ. Code § 22-11-18-6
Inspections to determine compliance
Operative Text
Sec. 6. (a) The department of homeland security shall, as part of its normal inspection process, conduct inspections of hotels and motels in accordance with IC 22-14-2-11, to determine if the detectors are installed and functioning in compliance with this chapter. (b) Except for common areas shared by at least three (3) dwellings, a dwelling may not be inspected solely to determine compliance with section 3.5 of this chapter unless the owner or occupant of the dwelling gives permission. (c) Any evidence of a violation of this chapter shall be turned over to the prosecuting attorney of the county where the violation occurred. As added by Acts 1982, P.L.141, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.176-1991, SEC.7; P.L.28-2026, SEC.35.
Indiana Code § 22-11-18-6 establishes how compliance with the state's smoke detector requirements is checked. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security conducts inspections of hotels and motels as part of its routine inspection process to verify that detectors are properly installed and working. Private dwellings, however, generally cannot be inspected solely for detector compliance unless the owner or occupant consents—with an exception for common areas shared by three or more dwelling units. When evidence of a violation is found, it is referred to the prosecuting attorney in the county where the violation occurred.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 22-11-18-6, operators of hotels and motels should expect the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to assess detector installation and function during its standard inspection visits. Residential property owners and managers should be aware that inspectors generally cannot enter a private dwelling solely to check detector compliance without the owner's or occupant's permission, though common areas shared by three or more units do not carry that same protection. Maintaining detectors in proper working order at all times is the practice consistent with the chapter's requirements, since any discovered violations are forwarded to the county prosecuting attorney.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 22-11-18-6 provides tenants with a meaningful privacy protection: a dwelling generally cannot be inspected solely to check smoke detector compliance under this chapter unless the owner or occupant gives permission. Tenants living in buildings with common areas shared by three or more dwellings should be aware that those shared spaces do not carry the same consent requirement. If a tenant believes a violation of the detector requirements has occurred, the provision directs that evidence of such violations be referred to the prosecuting attorney of the county where the violation took place, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain what options may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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