CO Detector Requirements in DC: Homes, Rentals, and Hotels

Last verified: February 17, 2026

District of Columbia carbon monoxide detector laws are anchored in D.C. Code section 6-751.02 and detailed implementation rules in 12-G DCMR section 310. The framework covers homes, rentals, and qualifying lodging-related sleeping occupancies when trigger conditions such as fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, attached garages, or certain permit-related project contexts apply. District rules also define placement, listing, power, and backup expectations for both standalone alarms and system-connected detection pathways.

Enforcement is handled through property maintenance oversight and civil infraction processes, so correction speed and documentation quality directly affect risk exposure. Because owner, tenant, and operator duties are split across the cited framework, compliance requires a documented, repeatable process.

Operators should keep installation records, written notices, repair timelines, and verification logs for each covered unit.

Quick Safety Summary

CO detector requirements for District of Columbia
Applies to homes?	Yes
Applies to rentals?	Yes
Applies to hotels/STRs?	Yes

When Are CO Alarms Required?

Buildings with fuel-burning appliances
Buildings with attached garages
New construction
When building permits are required
Covered units include dwelling or sleeping units with listed risk conditions under 12-G DCMR 310.1.

Where to Install CO Alarms

Provide at least one alarm outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms in covered dwelling units.
Provide required story-level coverage in dwelling units, including basement levels where specified by code.
In other covered sleeping occupancies, provide at least one alarm outside each separate sleeping area.

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

Device Requirements

Standalone alarms must be listed to UL 2034, and combination smoke-CO alarms must meet UL 2034 and UL 217 pathways.
System-connected CO detectors must follow UL 2075 and required fire-alarm integration pathways where applicable.
Devices using primary building wiring must include battery backup and be installed to prevent unauthorized removal.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Owners and operators must provide required alarms and repair or replace nonfunctioning devices within cited timelines after written notice.

Tenant: Occupants must provide written notice when alarms are missing or malfunctioning and avoid disabling required devices.

Lease and operations documents should define notice workflow, repair timeline, and verification method.

Enforcement

Enforced by: District of Columbia Department of Buildings with civil infraction adjudication through Office of Administrative Hearings pathways.

Enforcement typically occurs:

During property maintenance inspections and complaint-based enforcement activity.
When required alarms are missing, inoperable, disconnected, or not installed per code.

Technical requirements come from 12-G DCMR section 310, while fine schedules are addressed through civil infraction rules.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

District civil infraction pathways include Class 3 and Class 4 schedules with escalating fine amounts for repeated violations.

16 DCMR section 3201 fine schedule with related District property maintenance classification pathways.

Additional Notes

District compliance programs should keep code citations and corrective-action proof in each property file.
Permit-related projects should verify whether updated alarm pathways apply before final signoff.

Official Sources & References

District of Columbia Official Code section 6-751.02 owner duty to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms — 6-751.02 (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Primary statutory duty language for installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
12-G DCMR property maintenance code section 310 carbon monoxide alarms — 310.1 through 310.4 and 310.7 (building code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Trigger, placement, listing, installation, power, and responsibility requirements.
District of Columbia rules 16 DCMR section 3201 civil infractions fine schedule — 3201 (building code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Class-based fine schedule used for civil infraction penalty analysis.
District Department of Buildings smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements guidance — Agency guidance PDF (agency guidance, accessed 2026-02-17)
Practical compliance and enforcement process guidance with code cross-references.

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 District of Columbia legal sources set carbon monoxide alarm duties?

The core legal anchors are D.C. Code section 6-751.02 and implementation requirements in 12-G DCMR section 310. Together, they define when alarms are required, how they should be installed, and how responsibility is split across owners, occupants, and operators. Compliance teams should reference both sources in one control document so policy and field execution stay aligned. District of Columbia programs that map each checklist item to a specific section are easier to defend during inspections, complaints, and enforcement follow-up.

Which properties and trigger conditions are covered in the District?

District of Columbia rules apply across homes, rentals, and covered lodging-related sleeping occupancies when listed risk conditions exist, including fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, attached garages, and certain project contexts. Scope decisions should use occupancy facts plus trigger facts rather than one broad property label. Operators should document the analysis for each unit before classifying it as covered or exempt. A written District trigger worksheet with section references helps keep legal, maintenance, and leasing teams consistent.

Where must alarms be installed and what standards apply in DC?

District placement rules require alarms outside separate sleeping areas and story-level coverage in covered dwelling units. The cited framework also references UL 2034 for standalone alarms, UL 2034 plus UL 217 for combination units, and UL 2075 for certain system-connected detectors. Where primary building wiring is used, battery backup is required. District of Columbia teams should keep installation records with device model, listing type, and commissioning date. That documentation supports inspection and enforcement review.

What penalty exposure applies under District civil infraction pathways?

District enforcement can proceed through civil infraction schedules that include escalating Class 3 and Class 4 fine amounts for repeated violations. Even when a case starts as a routine maintenance issue, missed deadlines and incomplete correction records can increase legal exposure. Operators should track each notice, correction date, and verification step in one timeline. District of Columbia compliance files that link each action to 16 DCMR section 3201 are typically stronger in adjudication contexts.

Are all-electric District units automatically exempt from CO alarm duties?

Not automatically. District of Columbia scope analysis should consider the full trigger list, occupancy profile, and code pathway instead of relying only on utility profile. Attached garages, adjacent risk sources, or permit-related project conditions can still affect requirements in some settings. Owners should record exemption determinations with section citations, reviewer identity, and decision date before finalizing policy. Reevaluate exemptions after renovations or occupancy changes to avoid stale compliance assumptions. District of Columbia teams should archive this memo with annual code review records.

For DMV operators, what is the main compliance contrast between DC and Maryland?

District of Columbia combines D.C. Code duty language with detailed DCMR technical and civil infraction pathways, while Maryland programs often rely on a different state and local code mix by occupancy. Regional operators should avoid one shared DMV template without state-specific branches. For side-by-side planning, review Maryland CO detector laws and compare trigger structure, enforcement channels, and documentation controls before deployment. District of Columbia rollout plans should document separate approval gates for DC and Maryland compliance branches.

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