                                 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.