QLD smoke alarm laws 2027: what every home needs by 1 January

From 1 January 2027, every Queensland home must have photoelectric smoke alarms in every bedroom, in the hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the house, and on every storey, all wired or linked together so that when one sounds, they all sound. A single alarm in the hallway no longer passes. If yours run on a 9-volt battery you swap each year, they fail the new rules too.

What changed, and why it matters now

Queensland started phasing in these rules in 2017. New builds and major renovations have had to comply since then, and any home sold or leased since 1 January 2022 has needed the full interconnected system. The 1 January 2027 date is the last step: it covers everyone else, which is most owner-occupied homes in the state.

Industry estimates in May 2026 put more than a million Queensland homes still out of compliance. That matters for two reasons beyond safety. Electricians expect a rush in the last quarter of 2026, so booking late means waiting. And insurers have warned that a non-compliant home may complicate a fire claim after the deadline.

The rules in plain English

• Type: photoelectric, meeting Australian Standard 3786-2014. Ionisation alarms (the older, cheaper kind) are out.
• Where: inside every bedroom, in any hallway that connects bedrooms to the rest of the home, and on every storey. If a storey has no bedrooms, it still needs an alarm in the most likely path of travel to the exit.
• Interconnected: every alarm must trigger every other alarm. This can be hardwired through the ceiling or wireless between units.
• Power: either hardwired to mains with a backup battery, or a sealed 10-year non-removable battery. Alarms with a replaceable 9-volt battery do not comply.
• Age: alarms must be less than 10 years old. The manufacture date is printed on the back of each unit.
• Who installs: hardwired alarms must be fitted by a licensed electrician, who issues a Certificate of Testing and Compliance. You can fit wireless 10-year battery alarms yourself.

Hardwired or wireless: which should you choose?

Both comply. The decision is mostly about your ceilings and your budget.

Wireless 10-year battery alarms are the cheaper path for an existing home. They pair with each other by radio, so there is no cabling, and you can install them yourself. The trade-off is that the whole unit is replaced when the sealed battery expires, and you need to keep the set to one brand so they pair.

Hardwired alarms run off mains power with a battery backup and are linked by cable. They suit homes with ceiling access or a renovation already under way, and the electrician's compliance certificate is useful when you sell. If you already have hardwired alarms that need replacing, the replacements must also be hardwired, so get an electrician.

If you are selling or renting out

These homes have needed the full system since 2022, and buyers and tenants now expect the paperwork. If a sale is coming up, get the alarms sorted before the property goes to market rather than during settlement.

What to ask your electrician

• How many alarms, and where? Ask for the count against bedrooms, hallways and storeys, so you can check it against the rules above.
• Hardwired or wireless, and why? A good answer mentions your ceiling access and whether you already have hardwired units.
• Is the quote fixed price? Smoke alarm installs are a defined job. Ask for a total, not an hourly estimate.
• Will I get a Certificate of Testing and Compliance? For hardwired installs this is required. Keep it with your house documents.
• What brand, and what is the battery life? So that replacements in 10 years pair with what you have.