Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 92.001–92.355 § 92.254
SMOKE ALARM.
Operative Text
Sec. 92.254. SMOKE ALARM. (a) A smoke alarm must be:(1) designed to detect both the visible and invisible products of combustion;(2) designed with an alarm audible to a person in the bedrooms it serves; and(3) tested and listed for use as a smoke alarm by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Factory Mutual Research Corporation, or United States Testing Company, Inc.(a-1) If requested by a tenant as an accommodation for a person with a hearing-impairment disability or as required by law as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a hearing-impairment disability, a smoke alarm must, in addition to complying with Subsection (a), be capable of alerting a hearing-impaired person in the bedrooms it serves.(b) Except as provided by Section 92.255(b), a smoke alarm may be powered by battery, alternating current, or other power source as required by local ordinance. The power system and installation procedure of a security device that is electrically operated rather than battery operated must comply with applicable local ordinances. Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3650, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 475, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 824 (S.B. 1715), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2010.Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 257 (H.B. 1168), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.
Section 92.254 of the Texas Property Code establishes minimum technical standards for smoke alarms in residential rental properties. A qualifying smoke alarm must detect both visible and invisible combustion products, produce an audible alarm loud enough to be heard in the bedrooms it serves, and carry a listing from one of three recognized testing organizations: Underwriters Laboratories, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, or United States Testing Company. When a tenant requests an accommodation for a hearing-impaired person, or when law otherwise requires it, the alarm must also be capable of alerting someone with a hearing impairment in the bedrooms it serves.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.254 generally ensure that every smoke alarm installed in a rental unit meets the detection, audibility, and third-party listing requirements spelled out in the statute. Compliant operators verify that devices carry certification from Underwriters Laboratories, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, or United States Testing Company before installation. When a tenant submits a written request for a hearing-impairment accommodation, operators familiar with § 92.254(a-1) typically arrange for an alarm system capable of alerting a hearing-impaired occupant in the relevant bedrooms, and they confirm that any electrically operated alarm's power system and installation meet applicable local ordinances.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 92.254, tenants in Texas rental housing have a right to smoke alarms that meet specific detection and audibility standards and that are certified by a recognized testing organization. Tenants who are hearing-impaired, or who live with someone who is, may request under § 92.254(a-1) that the landlord provide an alarm system capable of alerting a hearing-impaired person in the bedrooms it serves. Tenants who believe their smoke alarms do not meet these standards may document the concern in writing to their landlord, consult a local tenant-rights organization, or explore remedies available under the broader Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.001–92.355 framework.
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 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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