CO Detector Rules in Colorado: Sale, Permit, and Source Triggers

Last verified: February 16, 2026

Colorado carbon monoxide detector laws are anchored in C.R.S. 38-45-102 through 38-45-106 and code language tied to IRC R315 placement rules. Covered single-family homes and many rentals can trigger obligations during sale, permit-based work, and occupancy scenarios involving fuel-burning appliances or attached garages.

The statute also sets landlord and tenant maintenance expectations, so compliance is operational as well as construction-related. Property managers should track move-in readiness, written defect notices, and correction timelines to reduce enforcement and liability risk.

Because Colorado combines statute text with code pathways, the most reliable approach is to map trigger event, occupancy type, and local inspection process before project start and lease turnover. For multi-jurisdiction portfolios, Colorado files should pair statutory citations with local code-adoption proof to prevent transfer delays and inspection disputes.

In 60 Seconds

CO detector requirements for Colorado
Applies to homes?	Yes
Applies to rentals?	Yes
Applies to hotels/STRs?	No

When Are CO Alarms Required?

Buildings with fuel-burning appliances
Buildings with attached garages
New construction
Home sales or property transfers
When building permits are required

Where to Install CO Alarms

For new construction: CO alarm installed outside of each separate sleeping area within 15 feet of the entrance to the bedrooms in dwelling units with fuel-fired appliances and in dwelling units with attached garages (Code of Colorado Regulations, ruleVersionId=4951, Section R315).

For detailed placement guidance beyond legal requirements, see where to place carbon monoxide detectors.

Device Requirements

Standards/power/interconnection specifics not extracted from the retrieved Colorado CCR excerpts beyond the cited placement/trigger language.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Replace CO alarm stolen/removed/missing/non-operational before new tenant moves in. Provide batteries at move-in. Replace alarms when notified by tenant. Fix deficiencies when notified. NOT responsible for day-to-day maintenance/battery replacement (§38-45-104(3)).

Tenant: Keep, test, and maintain all CO alarms in good repair. Notify owner in writing if batteries need replacement, alarm is stolen/removed/missing/non-operational, or any deficiency tenant cannot correct (§38-45-104(4)).

Enforcement

Enforced by: No single designated enforcement authority. Colorado Real Estate Commission (§12-10-206) enforces disclosure in listings. Local building departments enforce permit-triggered requirements. Local governments may adopt stricter codes per §38-45-105.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Article 45 contains no specific penalty provisions — no fines, no criminal penalties. §38-45-106 provides a limitation of liability for compliant owners/installers. Local governments may impose penalties under their own ordinances per §38-45-105.

C.R.S. §38-45-101 through §38-45-106 (no penalty section exists)

Additional Notes

CRS Article 45 (§38-45-101 through §38-45-106) verified as comprehensive standalone CO alarm statute.
Hotels/short-term rentals are NOT explicitly covered by Article 45 — only single-family, multi-family, and rental dwellings.

Official Sources & References

Code of Colorado Regulations (CCR) – GenerateRulePdf (ruleVersionId=4951) – Section R315 (Carbon monoxide alarms) amendment text — Section R315 (as shown in PDF) (building code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Confirms new-construction CO-alarm triggers (fuel-fired appliances/attached garages) and placement within 15 feet outside sleeping areas.
C.R.S. §38-45-102 — Single-family dwellings (official PDF) — §38-45-102 (within Article 45) (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Sale/transfer and permit triggers for single-family dwellings. See Article 45 within Title 38 PDF.
C.R.S. §38-45-104 — Rental properties (official PDF) — §38-45-104 (within Article 45) (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Rental property requirements including landlord/tenant duties. See Article 45 within Title 38 PDF.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general guidance and is not legal advice. Requirements may vary by city, county, and building type. Always verify current rules with local authorities and official sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What statewide statute anchors Colorado CO alarm duties?

Colorado statewide legal baseline is Article 45 of Title 38, especially C.R.S. 38-45-102 through 38-45-106. Those sections establish when carbon monoxide alarms are required in covered single-family and rental contexts and how compliance interacts with code pathways. Operators should read the statute together with applicable building-code provisions such as IRC R315 placement references. This combined reading is important because obligations can depend on trigger events, occupancy, and local enforcement workflow. Using only one source often misses practical compliance details in Colorado projects.

When do sale or permit events trigger obligations in Colorado?

Colorado rules can trigger alarm obligations during property transfer, permit-based renovation, and other statutory events identified in C.R.S. 38-45 pathways. In addition, source conditions such as fuel-burning appliances or attached garages influence when placement is required. For owners, this means transaction teams and construction teams should coordinate early instead of treating CO alarms as a final checklist item. Documenting trigger date, inspection status, and corrective action is a practical control that reduces disputes and helps show compliance during underwriting and closing.

How are rental responsibilities split in Colorado?

Colorado statute language in C.R.S. 38-45-104 separates owner and tenant duties. Owners generally handle installation, replacement between tenancies, and correction after written notice, while tenants are expected to maintain operability and report deficiencies they cannot resolve. This allocation should be mirrored in lease documents and move-in packets so expectations are enforceable and clear. Property managers should keep notice logs and repair timelines because post-incident disputes often depend on documentation quality more than verbal policy statements.

For Colorado all-electric homes, what conditions prevent automatic exemption?

All-electric homes may fall outside some source-based triggers, but Colorado owners should verify the full statutory and code context before concluding a unit is exempt. Attached garages, shared building systems, or neighboring combustion equipment can still affect risk profile in multifamily settings. Local code officials evaluate actual conditions, not only appliance labels. Many operators install alarms in borderline cases as a defensive safety measure and keep written rationale in the compliance file. That practice can reduce conflict during inspections and property transfer diligence.

Where should alarms be placed under Colorado code language?

Colorado placement references generally align with IRC R315 logic, including detector location outside sleeping areas and proximity considerations for covered dwellings. When fuel-burning equipment is near sleeping rooms, additional placement may be required by adopted code text. Builders should verify exact local amendments and inspection expectations before installation because municipal code editions can differ. Keeping approved placement plans, listing documentation, and as-built photos helps project teams close permits efficiently and defend compliance decisions after occupancy.

In Colorado portfolios, which procedure differs most from Utah alarm workflows?

Colorado combines a dedicated statewide statute in C.R.S. 38-45 with code-based placement pathways, while Utah frameworks rely on a different blend of statute and code triggers. Regional operators should avoid one shared template and instead map each state requirements by trigger event, occupancy, and inspection process. Colorado files should emphasize Article 45 responsibilities and local code implementation records. For a nearby-state comparison before finalizing western-region procedures, review Utah CO detector laws.

Practical CO Detector Guides

Beyond legal requirements, these guides help you choose, install, and maintain CO alarms:

Where to place carbon monoxide detectors — room-by-room placement recommendations
CO detector beeping patterns — what different alarms mean
What to do if your detector goes off — emergency response checklist
CO resources and links — official agencies and safety information