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🏠 FREE GUIDE — UPDATED 2026

CO Detector Requirements
for Landlords

State-by-state breakdown of what landlords are legally required to provide. Covers all 50 states with landlord obligation status, applicable law, and compliance essentials.

25 states — Landlord required
9 states — Varies / partial
16 states — No state mandate

Core Landlord Obligations

These obligations apply in all states where CO detectors are required. Going beyond the minimum protects both tenants and your liability.

1

Install before tenant move-in

CO detectors must be installed and in working condition before the first day of tenancy in all states with landlord requirements.

2

Replace expired detectors

CO detectors expire — electrochemical sensors degrade over 5–10 years. Landlords are responsible for replacing them at expiration, not waiting for tenant complaints.

3

Respond to malfunction reports

When a tenant reports a non-functional CO detector, most states require the landlord to respond within 24–72 hours. Document all reports and responses.

4

Document your compliance

Keep records of detector make/model, installation date, location, and any maintenance. These records can protect you in tenant disputes or legal proceedings.

All 50 States — Landlord Requirements

Data current as of 2026. Verify with your state's housing authority before making legal decisions.

State Law Status Landlord Required Since Key Details
AL Alabama ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
AK Alaska ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Some municipalities have local codes.
AZ Arizona 🔨 New Construction Varies 2013 Required in new residential construction under state building code.
AR Arkansas ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
CA California ✅ All Homes Yes 2011 All single-family (2011) and multifamily (2013) homes. Must be UL listed.
CO Colorado ⚡ Fuel-Burning / Garage Yes 2009 Required in all dwellings with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages.
CT Connecticut ✅ All Homes Yes 2005 Required in all residential dwellings. One per floor with sleeping areas.
DE Delaware 🔨 New Construction Varies 2012 Required in new one- and two-family dwellings under building code.
FL Florida 🔨 New Construction Varies 2008 Required in new one- and two-family dwellings built after 2008.
GA Georgia 🔨 New Construction Varies 2012 Required in new residential construction under state building code.
HI Hawaii ✅ All Homes Yes 2006 Required in all dwelling units and transient accommodations (hotels/rentals).
ID Idaho ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
IL Illinois ✅ All Homes Yes 2007 Required in every dwelling within 15 ft of sleeping rooms. Landlords responsible.
IN Indiana 🔨 New Construction Varies 2011 Required in new residential construction. Older homes subject to local codes.
IA Iowa ✅ All Homes Yes 2010 Required in all residential dwellings. Outside each sleeping area.
KS Kansas ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
KY Kentucky ✅ All Homes Yes 2011 Required in all residential dwellings with fuel-burning appliances.
LA Louisiana 🔨 New Construction Varies 2010 Required in new residential construction under the state building code.
ME Maine ✅ All Homes Yes 2009 Required in all residential buildings. At least one on each floor.
MD Maryland ✅ All Homes Yes 2013 Required in all residential buildings. One on each floor with sleeping areas.
MA Massachusetts ✅ All Homes Yes 2006 Required in all residential buildings with fossil-fuel equipment or attached garages.
MI Michigan ⚡ Fuel-Burning / Garage Yes 2009 Required in all one- and two-family dwellings with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages.
MN Minnesota ✅ All Homes Yes 2009 Required in all single-family and multifamily dwellings. One outside each sleeping area.
MS Mississippi ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
MO Missouri ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
MT Montana ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
NE Nebraska ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
NV Nevada ✅ All Homes Yes 2011 Required in all residential dwellings. One on each floor.
NH New Hampshire ⚡ Fuel-Burning / Garage Yes 2008 Required in all dwellings with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages.
NJ New Jersey ⚡ Fuel-Burning / Garage Yes 2004 Required in all one- and two-family dwellings with attached garages or fuel-burning equipment.
NM New Mexico 🏙️ Limited / Local Only Varies — No statewide mandate. Albuquerque and Santa Fe have local requirements.
NY New York ✅ All Homes Yes 2010 Required in all one- and two-family dwellings and multifamily buildings. Landlords must provide.
NC North Carolina ✅ All Homes Yes 2012 Required in all residential occupancies under the state building code.
ND North Dakota ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
OH Ohio ✅ All Homes Yes 2011 Required in all residential occupancies under the state fire code.
OK Oklahoma ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
OR Oregon ✅ All Homes Yes 2011 Required in all dwellings. Landlord must install and maintain in rental units.
PA Pennsylvania ✅ All Homes Yes 2011 Required in all residential buildings under the Uniform Construction Code.
RI Rhode Island ✅ All Homes Yes 2010 Required in all residential dwellings. One on each level with sleeping areas.
SC South Carolina ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
SD South Dakota ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
TN Tennessee ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
TX Texas 🔨 New Construction Varies 2010 Required in new construction and multifamily buildings. Older homes subject to local codes.
UT Utah 🔨 New Construction Varies 2011 Required in new residential construction under the state building code.
VT Vermont ✅ All Homes Yes 2012 Required in all residential dwellings. Landlords must provide and maintain.
VA Virginia ✅ All Homes Yes 2011 Required in all residential buildings. One on each floor with a bedroom.
WA Washington ✅ All Homes Yes 2010 Required in all dwelling units. New construction since 2010; rentals under landlord-tenant law.
WV West Virginia ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.
WI Wisconsin ✅ All Homes Yes 2010 Required in all residential dwellings. One outside each sleeping area.
WY Wyoming ❌ No Mandate N/A — No statewide requirement. Check local municipality.

Showing all 50 states. Data current as of 2026 — verify with your state's housing authority before making legal decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a landlord doesn't install a required CO detector?
Penalties vary by state but can include civil fines, voided lease agreements, tenant right to terminate without penalty, and personal liability if a tenant is injured or killed due to CO exposure. In some states, non-compliance is a criminal misdemeanor.
Who is responsible for replacing batteries or maintaining the detector?
Laws differ by state. In most states the landlord must install the detector in working condition at the start of the tenancy; ongoing battery replacement may be the tenant's responsibility unless the lease specifies otherwise. Landlords are generally responsible for replacing malfunctioning units.
Do vacation rentals and Airbnb properties need CO detectors?
Yes, in most states with CO detector laws, short-term rentals are covered. Some states — including Hawaii — explicitly include transient accommodations (hotels, vacation rentals) in their requirements.
Does a CO detector also satisfy smoke detector requirements?
No. Combination CO/smoke detectors exist and may satisfy both requirements, but a standalone CO detector does not replace a smoke detector. Both are typically required.
Are commercial properties and offices covered by these laws?
Most state CO detector laws cover residential properties specifically. Commercial and industrial properties are governed by OSHA and local fire codes, which typically require CO monitoring near fuel-burning equipment.
What type of CO detector does the law require?
Most state laws require UL 2034 listed detectors. Some states specify battery backup requirements. AirShield is UL 2034 listed and plug-in with no batteries required.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. State laws change — verify requirements with your state's housing authority, fire marshal, or an attorney before making compliance decisions. AirShield is not responsible for any compliance decisions made based on this guide.

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UL 2034 Listed — Meets All State Requirements

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