The short answer
Smoke alarms are compulsory in homes in every state and territory, and most states name Australian Standard 3786 for the alarm itself. Where the states differ:
- Queensland is the strictest: interconnected photoelectric alarms in every bedroom, hallway and level of every home by 1 January 2027 - see the Queensland guide.
- Hard-wired or battery depends on when the home was built and the state: Victorian homes built after 1 August 1997 need hard-wired alarms with battery back-up, and Tasmanian alarms have had to be hard-wired since 1 August 1997.
- Rentals carry extra duties for landlords - yearly checks in NSW and Victoria, and testing before a new tenancy in Queensland and Tasmania.
The rules by state
| State | Where alarms go | Power and type | Rentals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | Every bedroom, hallways and every level. | Interconnected photoelectric, every home by 1 January 2027. | Tested within 30 days before a tenancy starts; tenants test every 12 months. |
| NSW | Every level, in hallways near bedrooms or between the bedrooms and the rest of the house. | AS3786. | Checked every year; a faulty alarm fixed within two business days; replaced within 10 years of manufacture. |
| Victoria | On or near the ceiling of every storey, between each bedroom area and the rest of the house. | Hard-wired with battery back-up in homes built after 1 August 1997. | Tested at least once every 12 months from 25 November 2025; a faulty alarm is an urgent repair. |
| WA | Every corridor associated with a bedroom, and every storey. | Mains-powered and no more than 10 years old when a home is sold, rented or hired; interconnected where there is more than one. | The landlord keeps them mains-connected and under 10 years old. |
| South Australia | A working alarm in every home. | Hard-wired in new homes since 1 January 1995; interconnected in new homes since 1 May 2014. | Homeowners and landlords are responsible. |
| ACT | Each level of a multi-level home, interconnected. | Battery or wired alarms in homes built before November 1994. | Working alarms at the start of the tenancy; the tenant checks and replaces the battery. |
| Tasmania | Every hallway connected to bedrooms, and each level. | Hard-wired since 1 August 1997; interconnected since 1 May 2014. | Mains or 10 year non-removable battery; tested before a new occupancy; replaced every 10 years. |
| NT | All homes, including caravans. | Photoelectric, hardwired or a sealed 10-year lithium battery. | Approved alarm needed to sell or lease; tenants test every 12 months. |
Who can install a hard-wired alarm
A hard-wired alarm is electrical work: a licensed electrician installs it in Queensland and the NT, a qualified electrician in Victoria, and a licensed electrical contractor connects mains alarms in WA. In Victoria, anyone can change a smoke alarm battery.
When to replace a smoke alarm
Generally after ten years. In Queensland an alarm made more than 10 years ago must be replaced; NSW landlords must replace alarms within 10 years of manufacture; and WA alarms in homes being sold or rented must be no more than 10 years old.
What smoke alarms cost
From our electrician cost guide:
- Smoke alarm (supply + install): $100 to $250 per alarm
- Call-out / service fee: $50 to $150 flat
Frequently asked questions
Are smoke alarms compulsory in Australia?
Yes. Every state and territory requires smoke alarms in homes, and most states require alarms that meet Australian Standard 3786.
Do smoke alarms have to be interconnected?
In Queensland every home needs interconnected alarms by 1 January 2027. In WA, alarms must be interconnected where there is more than one (except homes built on a permit applied for before 1 May 2015), and new homes in South Australia and Tasmania have needed them since 1 May 2014.
Do smoke alarms need to be hard-wired?
It depends on the state and the age of the home. Victorian homes built after 1 August 1997 need hard-wired alarms with battery back-up, and WA homes sold or rented need mains-powered alarms unless there is nowhere to run the wiring.
Who is responsible for smoke alarms in a rental?
Mainly the landlord. NSW landlords cannot hand the job to tenants, while tenants in Queensland and the NT test alarms every 12 months and ACT tenants replace the battery.
How often should smoke alarms be replaced?
Generally every ten years, or earlier if the manufacturer says so.
Compare quotes from local licensed electricians to supply and install compliant smoke alarms.
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This guide summarises the law; it is not legal advice. The rules for your property can turn on its date, its council and any approval it carries - check with your council or the state regulator below. Checked against these pages in October 2026:
- Smoke alarms | ACT Emergency Services Agency (esa.act.gov.au) · esa.act.gov.au/be-emergency-ready/smoke-alarms
- During a tenancy - ACT Government (act.gov.au) · www.act.gov.au/housing-planning-and-property/renting/during-a-tenancy
- Smoke alarms in a rental property | NSW Government (nsw.gov.au) · www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/rules/smoke-alarms-a-rental-property
- Smoke alarms - what is the law? - Fire and Rescue NSW (fire.nsw.gov.au) · www.fire.nsw.gov.au/fire-safety/home-fire-safety/smoke-alarms/smoke-alarms-what-
- Smoke alarms (nt.gov.au) · nt.gov.au/emergency/community-safety/fire-safety-at-home/smoke-alarms
- Smoke Alarms | NT Police, Fire & Emergency Services (pfes.nt.gov.au) · pfes.nt.gov.au/fire-and-rescue-service/fire-safety/smoke-alarms
- Reminder to install interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (qbcc.qld.gov.au) · www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/news/reminder-install-interconnected-photoelectric-smoke-ala
- Smoke alarms (qld.gov.au) · www.qld.gov.au/emergency/safety/fire/smoke-alarms
- Buying and installing smoke alarms (qld.gov.au) · www.qld.gov.au/community/fair-trading/consumer-rights-complaints-and-scams/buyin
- Smoke alarms | Residential Tenancies Authority (rta.qld.gov.au) · www.rta.qld.gov.au/during-a-tenancy/maintenance/smoke-alarms
- Smoke Alarm Legislation | Metropolitan Fire Service (mfs.sa.gov.au) · mfs.sa.gov.au/community-safety/safety-and-education/fact-sheets/smoke-alarm-legi
- SA.GOV.AU - Smoke alarms (sa.gov.au) · www.sa.gov.au/topics/housing/keeping-your-property-safe/smoke-alarms
- Smoke alarms | Tasmania Fire Service (homefiresafety.tas.gov.au) · www.homefiresafety.tas.gov.au/fire-safety-equipment/smoke-alarms
- Smoke alarms in rentals | Tasmania Fire Service (homefiresafety.tas.gov.au) · www.homefiresafety.tas.gov.au/fire-safety-equipment/smoke-alarms-rentals
- Smoke alarms and fire safety - Consumer Affairs Victoria (consumer.vic.gov.au) · www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/repairs-alterations-safety-and-pets/keep
- Smoke alarms | Building and Plumbing Commission (bpc.vic.gov.au) · www.bpc.vic.gov.au/resource-hub/safety-guides/smoke-alarms
- Smoke alarm laws for homes being sold, rented and hired (wa.gov.au) · www.wa.gov.au/organisation/building-and-energy/smoke-alarm-laws-homes-being-sold