CO Detectors in Connecticut: Requirements, Placement, and Penalties

Last verified: February 16, 2026

Connecticut carbon monoxide detector laws are anchored in Conn. Gen. Stat. 29-292 and related code provisions adopted through the Connecticut Fire Safety and Building Codes. Covered homes and rentals are generally tied to fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, attached garages, and permit-based construction paths that trigger inspection or certificate of occupancy review.

Connecticut also uses transfer and occupancy controls, so owners should treat compliance as both a construction and transaction issue. The practical compliance baseline is clear documentation of alarm installation near sleeping areas, maintenance records, and correction workflows before move-in or closing. Because duties differ across owners, landlords, and tenants, lease language and inspection logs should match the cited statutory sections.

In practice, pairing statutory citations with local inspection notes helps ensure compliance decisions remain defensible during audits and incident investigations.

In 60 Seconds

CO detector requirements for Connecticut
Applies to homes?	Yes
Applies to rentals?	Yes
Applies to hotels/STRs?	Not confirmed — check local codes

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
Fire code language also references sleeping units with communicating attached garages.

Where to Install CO Alarms

Outside each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms (RCSA 29-292-17e / IRC R315 placement language).

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

Device Requirements

Install listed carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment required by Conn. Gen. Stat. 29-292 and 29-453 under adopted Connecticut fire and building code pathways.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Must provide and maintain required CO alarms in covered rental units and deliver a habitable unit at move-in; should document installation and corrective work.

Tenant: Must not remove or disable required alarms, should keep devices operable, and should notify the owner promptly when alarms are missing or malfunctioning.

Connecticut landlord-tenant statutes provide general habitability and tenant-care duties; CO-specific operational practice should be documented in lease and maintenance records.

Enforcement

Enforced by: State Fire Marshal and the Codes and Standards Committee administer statewide code frameworks; local fire marshals and building officials handle on-the-ground inspections and occupancy approvals.

Enforcement typically occurs:

During construction and permit inspections for covered projects.
At certificate-of-occupancy review where code compliance must be certified.
During complaint-based or routine local fire/building inspections.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Violations can lead to fines from $200 to $1,000, imprisonment up to 6 months, and an additional $50 per day for continuing violations. Written citations can carry fines up to $250, and courts may issue injunctive relief.

Conn. Gen. Stat. 29-291c.

Additional Notes

Fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, and attached garage language appears in statutory and code references used for trigger analysis.
Transfer and occupancy workflows make CO compliance relevant to both real-estate closing and permit closeout.
Use local authority guidance for final enforcement interpretation in each municipality.

Official Sources & References

Connecticut General Statutes - Sec. 29-292 (Fire Safety Code; CO and smoke detection equipment) — Sec. 29-292 (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Statutory anchor for Connecticut Fire Safety Code requirements related to carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment.
Connecticut General Statutes - Sec. 29-291c (Penalties for fire safety code violations) — Sec. 29-291c (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Establishes fine ranges, misdemeanor exposure, and continuing-violation amounts.
Connecticut General Statutes - Sec. 29-453 (Transfer affidavit and CO/smoke detector language) — Sec. 29-453 (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Adds transfer-related compliance context for one- and two-family residential transactions.
2022 Connecticut State Fire Safety Code (CSFSC) — CO detection provisions cross-referencing statutory sections (fire code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Confirms statewide code framework and occupancy-based implementation of CO detector requirements.
2022 Connecticut State Residential Code (IRC adoption) — R315.3 (location language) (building code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Placement language used for sleeping-area proximity and related residential installation logic.
Connecticut eRegulations - RCSA 29-292-17e — 29-292-17e (fire code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Direct text for placement near sleeping areas under Connecticut amendments.

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

Which Connecticut statutes and code sections make CO alarms mandatory?

Yes. Connecticut carbon monoxide detector laws require alarms in covered dwellings under Conn. Gen. Stat. 29-292 and related Connecticut code provisions. Requirements are tied to source and occupancy triggers such as fuel-burning equipment and attached garages, with code enforcement through local officials. Owners should treat compliance as mandatory life-safety infrastructure rather than optional best practice. For transactions and occupancy events, keep installation and inspection records in the property file. Connecticut State Fire Marshal oversight makes documentation quality especially important.

In Connecticut, which occupancy features trigger the strictest alarm requirements?

The highest-risk categories are homes and rentals with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages, plus projects that enter permit or certificate-of-occupancy workflows. Connecticut code and statute references point to occupancy and trigger-based analysis, not one simple yes-or-no rule for every building. Operators should map property type, equipment profile, and local code edition before work starts. This approach reduces delays at final inspection and lowers post-closing compliance risk. Using Sec. 29-292 and Sec. 29-453 as screening checkpoints gives acquisition and compliance teams a repeatable process.

In Connecticut rentals, which landlord and tenant actions must be timestamped?

Connecticut practice separates owner and tenant duties: landlords are expected to provide and maintain required alarms, while tenants are expected not to disable alarms and to report defects promptly. The legal framework sits within state code plus general landlord-tenant obligations on habitability and care of premises. Property managers should capture these duties in lease language, move-in checklists, and service ticket workflows. Clear documentation is critical if a dispute follows a failed inspection or incident.

Under Connecticut code, what enforcement path applies when required alarms are missing?

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. 29-291c, violations can carry fines from $200 to $1,000, potential imprisonment up to 6 months, and additional daily amounts for continuing violations. Written citations can also be issued with separate fine exposure. Courts may grant injunctive relief where conditions remain uncorrected. Because penalties can escalate, owners should correct violations quickly and preserve dated proof of remediation. Connecticut State Fire Marshal actions and local citation records should be referenced in internal compliance notices.

For Connecticut inspections, which room-by-room placement evidence is usually required?

Connecticut placement language includes installation outside each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms, reflected in RCSA 29-292-17e and related IRC R315 pathways. Additional placement can be required based on building layout and local code interpretation. Installation plans should be confirmed before rough-in or occupancy inspection. Keep model numbers, listing data, and as-built placement photos in the compliance record. Connecticut inspectors may request proof that installed units match listed standards for the adopted code cycle.

Which Connecticut-Rhode Island difference most affects CO alarm audit checklists?

Connecticut uses a combination of state statute anchors and adopted code pathways, while Rhode Island applies its own statutory and code structure with different enforcement details. Multi-state operators should avoid reusing one checklist across both states without adjusting triggers, occupancy scope, and inspection practice. For nearby comparison before finalizing Northeast SOPs, compare Sec. 29-292 pathways before applying shared vendor scopes, confirm municipal inspection differences, and review Rhode Island 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