Smoke alarms in homes by country
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
Whether smoke alarms are legally required in dwellings and who must fit and look after them. Pick a country for the full list of rules, each with its official source.
| Country | Smoke alarm legally required in homes | Minimum alarms and where | Who must fit the alarms | Who must keep them working | Date the duty applies (existing homes: compliance date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Smoke alarms in dwellings: ⚠ Not yet verified Smoke alarms in dwellings, Bavaria: Yes (Bavaria) | Smoke alarms in dwellings: ⚠ Not yet verified Smoke alarms in dwellings, Bavaria: At least one smoke alarm in each bedroom and children's room and in each hallway leading to living rooms. | Smoke alarms in dwellings: ⚠ Not yet verified Smoke alarms in dwellings, Bavaria: Owner | Smoke alarms in dwellings: ⚠ Not yet verified Smoke alarms in dwellings, Bavaria: Occupier (tenant or resident) | Smoke alarms in dwellings: ⚠ Not yet verified Smoke alarms in dwellings, Bavaria: 31 December 2017 |
| Netherlands | Yes, all homes | At least one working smoke alarm on each floor. | Owner | ⚠ Not yet verified | 1 July 2022 |
| United Kingdom | Smoke alarms in dwellings, England, rented homes: Yes, rented homes Smoke alarms in dwellings, Scotland: Yes, all homes | Smoke alarms in dwellings, England, rented homes: A smoke alarm on each storey with a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation (a bathroom or lavatory counts as living accommodation). Smoke alarms in dwellings, Scotland: One smoke alarm in the living room or most-used room and one in every hallway and landing, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen; all ceiling-mounted and interlinked. | Smoke alarms in dwellings, England, rented homes: Landlord Smoke alarms in dwellings, Scotland: Owner | Smoke alarms in dwellings, England, rented homes: Landlord Smoke alarms in dwellings, Scotland: ⚠ Not yet verified | Smoke alarms in dwellings, England, rented homes: 1 October 2015 Smoke alarms in dwellings, Scotland: ⚠ Not yet verified |
| France | Yes, every home | At least one smoke alarm per dwelling, in the corridor serving the bedrooms; none in shared parts of a building. | Owner | Occupier | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Spain | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Buildings up to 50 m: No national requirement Smoke alarms in dwellings, Buildings above 50 m: Detection and alarm system | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Italy | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Tourist and short lets: No (gas and CO detectors instead) Smoke alarms in dwellings, Buildings 12 m or higher: No national requirement Smoke alarms in dwellings: ⚠ Not yet verified | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Tourist and short lets: Gas and CO detectors, extinguishers Smoke alarms in dwellings, Buildings 12 m or higher: Manual alarm above 54 m | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Tourist and short lets: Whoever lets the unit | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Ireland | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Rented homes: Yes, rented homes | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Rented homes: Each rented house must contain a suitable self-contained fire detection and alarm system and a suitably located fire blanket. In a multi-unit building each self-contained house must also have an emergency evacuation plan, and common areas need a suitable fire detection and alarm system and emergency lighting. The Regulations set no number of alarms. | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Rented homes: Landlord | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Rented homes: Landlord | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Rented homes: 1 May 2019 |
| Australia | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Poland | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Dwellings: Yes, from 1 January 2030 (existing homes) Smoke alarms in dwellings, Hotel-service units: Yes, from 30 June 2026 | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Dwellings: At least one autonomous smoke alarm per dwelling, meeting the Polish Standard for autonomous smoke alarms. A room where solid, liquid or gas fuel is burned in a dwelling must also have at least one autonomous carbon monoxide detector, except where combustion is in a sealed-chamber appliance or a gas appliance for preparing meals. | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Dwellings: ⚠ Not yet verified | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Dwellings: ⚠ Not yet verified | Smoke alarms in dwellings, Dwellings: 1 January 2030 Smoke alarms in dwellings, Hotel-service units: 30 June 2026 |
| Sweden | Smoke alarms in dwellings, New-build homes: Yes (newly built homes) Smoke alarms in dwellings, Older homes: Advice only (older homes) | Smoke alarms in dwellings, New-build homes: ⚠ Not yet verified Smoke alarms in dwellings, Older homes: Recommended, not a legal minimum: at least one working smoke alarm per floor, in or next to bedrooms and in the room nearest the kitchen; more in large homes. | Smoke alarms in dwellings, New-build homes: ⚠ Not yet verified Smoke alarms in dwellings, Older homes: Property owner (advice) | Smoke alarms in dwellings, New-build homes: ⚠ Not yet verified Smoke alarms in dwellings, Older homes: Occupier (advice) | Smoke alarms in dwellings, New-build homes: ⚠ Not yet verified Smoke alarms in dwellings, Older homes: ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Finland | Required in every dwelling | A 'sufficient number' of smoke alarms or other devices that detect an incipient fire as early as possible and warn people in the dwelling. The Act sets no fixed number. | Building owner | Building owner (resident reports faults) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Norway | Yes (all homes) | At least one detector or smoke alarm on each floor, covering the kitchen, the living room, the zone outside bedrooms and the zone outside technical rooms. The alarm must be clearly audible in living rooms and bedrooms with the doors closed. | Owner | Owner | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Before you rely on it
This comparison covers national rules. Regional or local rules can apply on top of them, and rules change. A rule marked “to verify” has not yet been confirmed against an official source. Each country page links to the official sources, and those are the place to confirm the details before you act.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.