                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SMOKE ALARMS FOR PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING (§ 36-99.5)

Smoke alarms for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing shall be installed only
in conformance with the provisions of the current Building Code and maintained
in accordance with the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (§ 27-94 et seq.) and
subdivision C 6 of § 36-105, Part III of the Building Code. Such alarms shall
be provided by the landlord or proprietor, upon request by a tenant of a rental
unit or a person living with such tenant who is deaf or hard of hearing as
referenced by the Virginia Fair Housing Law (§ 36-96.1 et seq.), or upon
request by an occupant of any of the following occupancies, regardless of when
constructed:

1. All dormitory buildings arranged for the shelter and sleeping accommodations
of more than 20 individuals;

2. All boarding and lodging houses arranged for shelter and sleeping
accommodations of more than five individuals; or

3. All residential rental dwelling units.
			A tenant shall be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the smoke
alarm in the tenant&#8217;s unit in accordance with &#xA7; 55.1-1227.
			A hotel or motel shall have available no fewer than one such smoke alarm for
each 70 units or portion thereof, except that this requirement shall not apply
to any hotel or motel with fewer than 35 units. The proprietor of the hotel or
motel shall post in a conspicuous place at the registration desk or counter a
permanent sign stating the availability of smoke alarms for persons who are deaf
or hard of hearing. Visual alarms shall be provided for all meeting rooms for
which an advance request has been made.
			The proprietor or landlord may require a refundable deposit for a smoke
alarm, not to exceed the original cost or replacement cost, whichever is
greater, of such smoke alarm. Rental fees shall not be increased as compensation
for this requirement.
			A landlord of a rental unit shall provide a reasonable accommodation to a
person who is deaf or hard of hearing who requests installation of a smoke alarm
that is appropriate for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing if such
accommodation is appropriate in accordance with the Virginia Fair Housing Law
(&#xA7; 36-96.1 et seq.).

HISTORY: 1984, c. 753; 1988, c. 183; 2011, c. 766; 2018, cc. 41, 81; 2019, c.
288.