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County of Ocean Office of the Fire Marshal

OCFMSmokeDetect@co.ocean.nj.us

P.O. Box 2191 Toms River, N.J. 08754-2191

Phone (732) 929-2088 Fax (732) 929-2077

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RESIDENTIAL SMOKE ALARM, CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM AND SECONDARY POWER SOURCE IDENTIFICATION

UPDATED FEBRUARY 2025


New Jersey Fire Code mandates the following when renting/selling your 1 or 2 family home.

1) SMOKE ALARMS (Effective January 1, 2019)
  • Alarms shall be on every living level, including the basement. Levels that have bedrooms, alarms shall be within the immediate vicinity and no more than 10 feet from the bedrooms.
  • The alarms should be mounted on the ceiling, but if an alarm must be mounted on a wall, it must be 4 inches minimum and 12 inches maximum from the ceiling. They must also be 4 inches from any corner, and a minimum of 3 feet from any air register.
  • Smoke Alarms, including electric (hardwired), shall be under 10 years old.
  • Please be sure to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for proper installation and maintenance.
    • Homes built prior to 1978 - a minimum of (1) one 10-YEAR SEALED battery-operated smoke alarm is required on each level of the home.
    • 1978 – 1983 – Electric (hardwired) alarms are to be installed on each level of the home.
    • 1984 – 1990 – Interconnected electric (hardwired) smoke alarms with battery backups are to be installed on each level of the home.
    • 1991 – Present – Interconnected electric (hardwired) smoke alarms with battery backups are to be installed in bedrooms and on each level of the home.
  • **NOTE: Working Smoke Alarms for all years are required to be on each level of the residence including the basement. ***
If you were required to upgrade to electric (hardwired) smoke alarms – they must be MAINTAINED as electric (hardwired), less than 10 years of age and fully functional.*

2) CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS (CO) (Effective April 7, 2003)
  • Carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed in all dwelling units in buildings in one- and twofamily or attached single family dwellings, except for units in buildings that do not contain a fuel-burning device or have an attached garage, as follows,
  • Single station carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed and maintained in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping area(s).
  • Battery Only and Plug-In CO alarms should be under 5 years old. Combination Smoke Alarm/Carbon Monoxide Alarms shall be under 10 years old and comply with Smoke Alarm rules. Please be sure to refer to the manufacturer's instructions for proper installation and maintenance.
3) SECONDARY POWER SOURCE IDENTIFICATION (Effective February 3, 2025)
  • The requirements apply to 1 and/or 2 family attached dwellings only.
  • A label must be installed within 18 inches of the main electrical panel AND electrical meter warning of the dangers associated with secondary power sources.
  • A secondary power source may include permanently installed internal combustion generators, solar panels, battery storage systems, or any other supplemental source of electrical energy to the primary power supply.
  • The label, compliant with ANSI Z535.4, must be marked with the wording similar to “CAUTION: MULTIPLE SOURCES OF POWER” and may not be handwritten.
4) FEES - The fees for inspection and issuance of a certificate are as follows:
  • $45.00- More than 10 business days from the time the application is received in our office, to the date of the change of occupancy.
  • $90.00- 4 to 10 business days from the time the application is received in our office, to the date of the change of occupancy.
  • $161.00- 3 business days or less from the time the application is received in our office, to the date of the change of occupancy.
  • $30.00- Failure to maintain the scheduled appointment or entry to the structure will result in this fee.
  • $30.00- Any reinspection required for failure to have properly installed operating detectors in accordance with the code may be subject to a reinspection fee.
WE DO NOT ACCEPT CASH - Payment may be made by Paper Check, Credit Card or E-Check ONLY

Checks made payable to Ocean County Fire Marshal (OCFM) are accepted in person at the time of the inspection.

**Please note there is a $15.00 returned check processing fee

If paying by Credit Card or E-Check please either contact our office for payment instructions or inquire with the Inspector at the at the time of Inspection.

**Please note there is a Credit Card fee of $6.95 and E-Check fee of $1.99.

REMINDER: Closing on a resale of a residential dwelling without a properly issued Certificate of Smoke Alarm, Carbon Monoxide Alarm and Secondary Power Source Identification (CSACMAPFEC) prior to closing subjects the seller to a minimum fine of $1000.00.

5) FAQ
  • If a low voltage fire alarm system installed in premises is considered the primary system, this system is a permanent fixture of the premises and shall be monitored by an approved supervising station. The system shall be maintained in accordance with NFPA 72 and tested by your alarm company. A copy of NFPA 72 report is to be submitted to this office prior to closing.
  • If electric (hardwired) interconnected alarms need to be replaced due to age, they shall be replaced with electric (hardwired) alarms. Battery alarms are not acceptable replacements for wired alarms.
  • Do not mount alarms in unfinished attic spaces, garages, stairwells, top of basement stairs or in the kitchen as they often result in unwanted false alarms.
  • As of February 3, 2025, portable fire extinguishers are no longer required to obtain a CSACMAPFEC. Homeowners and property sellers are no longer obligated to install, service, or provide documentation for fire extinguishers as part of the compliance inspection process.
Code References:
N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.19 and N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3
NFPA 72
ANSI/UL 217
UL-2034
NFPA 720
Please check that you agree before continuing.
I have read and agree to the Smoke Alarm / Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements of N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.19 above.
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