Ordinance 1995-04
CITY OF WYLIE, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO.
9S-(
AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING THAT ALL DWELLING UNITS BE
EQUIPPED WITH SMOKE DETECTORS AND SPECIFYING THE
LOCATION THEREOF; SPECIFYING RESPONSffiILITIES OF BOTH
OWNERS AND DWFJ J .RRS; PROVIDING FOR REPEALING AND
SEVERABILITY CLAUSES~ PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE OA TE OF
TInS ORDINANCE; AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION HEREOF.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Wylie, Texas ("City Council"), has
investigated and determined that it is in the best interest for the public health and safety of Wylie
to require that working smoke detectors be installed and maintained in all dwelling units or
congregate residences used for sleeping purposes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WYLIE, TEXAS:
SECTION I: Smoke Detectors Required. All dwelling units or congregate residences
used for sleeping purposes shall be provided with working smoke detectors, and all smoke
detectors shall be installed in accordance with the approved manufacturer's instructions.
SECTION 2: Location Within Dwelline Units. The smoke detector shall be installed in
each sleeping room and at a point centrally located in the corridor or area giving access to each
separate sleeping area. When the dwelling unit has more than one story and in dwellings with
basements, a detector shall be installed on each story and in the basement. In dwelling units
where a story or basement is split into two or more levels, the smoke detector shall be installed on
the upper level, except that when the lower level contains a sleeping area. a detector shall be
installed on each leveL When sleeping rooms are on an upper level, the detector shall be placed at
the ceiling of the upper level in close proximity to the stairway. In dwelling units where the
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ceiling height of a room open to the hallway serving the bedrooms exceeds that of the haUway by
24 inches (61Omm) or more, smoke detectors shall be installed in the hallway and in the adjacent
room. Detectors shall sound an alarm audible in all sleeping areas oftbe dwelling unit in which
they are located.
SECTION 3: Location Within Efficiency Dwelllng Units or Congregate Residences. In
efficiency dwelling units and congregate residence sleeping rooms, detectors shall be located on
the ceiling or wall of the main room or each sleeping room. When sleeping rooms within an
efficiency dwelling unit are on an upper level, the detector shall be placed at the ceiling of the
. upper level in close proximity to the stairway. When actuated, the detector shall sound an alarm
audible within the sleeping area of the efl'1ciency dwelling unit or congregate residence,
SECTION 4: Responsibilities of Owner and Dweller.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner of the dwelling unit or congregate residence to
properly install a working smoke detector in accordance with the approved manufacturer's
instructions, and as set forth in Sections 2 and 3 above.
After the dwelling unit or congregate residence is occupied. the dweller shall be
responsible to ensure that the smoke detector remains in a working condition by either
maintaining the smoke detector or immediately notifying the owner that repair to the smoke
detector is needed. However, the dweller may not absolve its liability under this Ordinance by
relying solely upon notification to the owner. The dweller must take whatever steps necessary to
ensure that the dwelling unit or congregate residence has a working smoke detector.
Both the owner and dweller may be held liable under the penalty provision of this
Ordinance, if it is determined that the owner failed to properly install a smoke detector or if he or
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she failed to respond to the dweller's notification within a timely manner, and if the dweller failed
to maintain the smoke detector in a working condition.
SECTION 5: Severability Clause.
It is the intention of the City Council that this Ordinance, and every provision thereof.
shall be considered severable and the invalidity of any section, clause or provision or part or
portion of any section, cla.use, or provision of this Ordinance shall not affect the validity of any
other portion of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6: Repealing Clause.
All provisions of any ordinance in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed~ but
such repeal shall not abate any pending prosecution for violation of the repealed ordinance, nor
shall the repeal prevent a prosecution from being commenced for any violation if occurring prior
to the repeal of the ordinance.
SECTION 7: Publication and Effective Date.
The caption oftrus Ordinance shall be published in accordance with the law and
the provisions of the Home Rule Charter of the City of Wylie and shall be effective immediately
upon its passage and such publication.
SUSAN\$C
City Sect~
.<~::;;:;;:;:.. .
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
D. KAY WOODS
City Attorney
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