Queensland’s 2027 Smoke Alarm Compliance

Yes, if your home does not already meet Queensland’s smoke alarm requirements. By 1 January 2027, all owner-occupied homes in Queensland must comply with the legislation, including homes that are not being sold or rented. The 2027 deadline is not the date to start upgrading. If your home is not compliant, your upgrade needs to be completed before 1 January 2027. New and substantially renovated homes, rental properties, and homes being sold are already subject to the stricter requirements.

There is no one-size-fits-all number. The number of smoke alarms required depends on the layout and number of storeys in your home. Smoke alarms must be installed:

• In every bedroom
• In hallways connecting bedrooms to the rest of the home
• On every level of the property
• Between bedrooms and other parts of the storey where there is no hallway
• In the most likely path to exit on a storey where there are no bedrooms

Not always. In existing homes, you can use either:

• Hardwired photoelectric smoke alarms with a backup battery, or
• Photoelectric smoke alarms powered by a sealed, non-removable 10-year lithium battery.

New homes and major renovations generally need hardwired smoke alarms installed by a licensed electrician.

If your home already has hardwired smoke alarms, replacement alarms must remain hardwired unless the existing hardwired system is properly decommissioned.

Only if they meet the current requirements and are still within their service life. Smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old, do not operate when tested, are ionisation type, or otherwise do not meet the current requirements will need to be replaced. If an existing 240V hardwired smoke alarm needs to be replaced, it must be replaced with a compliant hardwired photoelectric smoke alarm. It cannot simply be removed and replaced with a wireless battery-powered alarm while leaving the existing hardwired connection in place. If the hardwired system is to be removed entirely, the circuit must be properly decommissioned by a licensed electrician, including removal of the cable from the roof space back to the electrical switchboard.

If an existing 240V hardwired smoke alarm remains installed and needs to be replaced, it should be replaced with a compliant hardwired photoelectric smoke alarm rather than simply being removed. The current legislation determines where smoke alarms are required based on the layout of the dwelling. A professional assessment can determine whether existing alarms need to be replaced, relocated, or supplemented with additional alarms to meet the requirements.

No. Ionisation smoke alarms do not meet the current Queensland requirements for compliant smoke alarms. Your home needs the required number of compliant photoelectric smoke alarms, correctly positioned and interconnected. Leaving old ionisation alarms alongside a new system does not make them compliant. Ionisation smoke alarms should also be disposed of appropriately. A professional installer can assist with their removal and disposal as part of your upgrade.

There are a few signs that a smoke alarm may be hardwired:

• It has a green power indicator showing mains power
• It is connected to wiring in the ceiling
• It has a backup battery
• It is connected to the home’s 240V electrical supply

Interconnected smoke alarms communicate with each other, so when one alarm detects smoke, every alarm in the home sounds. This provides an earlier warning throughout the property, even if the fire starts in another room. Interconnection can be achieved through physical wiring or approved wireless technology. Interconnected smoke alarms are required under Queensland’s current smoke alarm legislation.

It depends on the type of smoke alarm being installed. 240V hardwired smoke alarms must be installed by a licensed electrician. Battery-powered 10-year smoke alarms may not require electrical installation. Professional installation can also help ensure your alarms are correctly positioned, interconnected and compliant with Queensland requirements.

The cost depends on your home’s size, layout, existing wiring, the number of smoke alarms required and the type of system being installed. Foxtone Andy’s CCTV can assess your existing smoke alarms and provide a clear, no-obligation quote based on what your property actually needs.

Landlords are responsible for ensuring rental properties have compliant smoke alarms installed before a tenancy begins or is renewed. During the tenancy, tenants are responsible for testing the alarms regularly and reporting any faults to the landlord or property manager.

Smoke alarms should be tested regularly using the test button and cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old or does not operate correctly when tested should be replaced. Smoke alarms should also be maintained so dust and debris do not interfere with their operation.

Waiting until you get closer to the New Year’s Day 2027 deadline could mean you face increased installation costs and longer booking times as demand grows across the security industry. Upgrading early helps ensure your home is protected sooner while giving you peace of mind that your property is better protected and complies with Queensland’s smoke alarm requirements.

Yes. We supply, install and test compliant photoelectric smoke alarms, ensuring they are correctly positioned and interconnected where required. Our experienced team can assess your existing alarms, identify what needs to be replaced or added, and help homeowners, landlords and property sellers upgrade their properties to meet Queensland’s smoke alarm requirements.

Nobody. New Year’s Day 2027 is the deadline for all homes, not the starting date. By then, every home in Queensland—including owner-occupied homes, regardless of when they were built—must already have compliant interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms installed. Your upgrade needs to be completed before the deadline, not started when it arrives.

Homes that do not meet these requirements will be in breach of Queensland law.

If you’re not completely sure, don’t wait until the deadline—or until after a fire—to find out. Foxtone Andy’s CCTV can assess your existing alarms, identify what needs to be replaced or added, and install a compliant interconnected system in the correct locations. One visit can take your home from “I think we’re compliant” to ready for 2027.