CO Detector Rules in Louisiana: Sale, Lease, and Generator Triggers

Last verified: February 16, 2026

Louisiana carbon monoxide detector laws are anchored in R.S. 40:1581 and are primarily structured around sale or lease events for covered one- and two-family dwelling contexts. In practice, this means transfer and occupancy timing is the key statewide compliance trigger rather than a broad fuel-source trigger applied to every scenario.

The same statute also requires professional generator installers in one- and two-family dwellings to include at least one operable detector with a long-life sealed battery. Louisiana's framework includes explicit safe-harbor language on insurance and transfer effects, but that does not remove life-safety risk or civil exposure when alarms are missing.

Owners, agents, and property managers should verify detector presence before transaction milestones and keep written documentation for disclosure and post-occupancy maintenance. Verifying detector status before lease execution and closing signatures further reduces transaction risk.

In 60 Seconds

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

When Are CO Alarms Required?

Home sales or property transfers
R.S. 40:1581 ties baseline obligation to sale or lease status in covered residential settings.
Generator installation in one- or two-family dwellings carries a detector requirement under the same statute.

Where to Install CO Alarms

At least one operable carbon monoxide detector is required under R.S. 40:1581, but the statute does not prescribe an exact room-by-room location map.

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

Device Requirements

At least one operable detector with a long-life sealed battery is required in covered scenarios.
Combination smoke and carbon monoxide units are allowed when they meet the statute's detector requirement.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Covered sale or lease events require the dwelling to include the statutory detector baseline before occupancy transfer.

The cited statute does not create a broad hotel-specific statewide detector framework.

Enforcement

Enforced by: Not explicitly centralized in one statewide enforcement section in the cited statute text.

Enforcement typically occurs:

At sale or lease compliance points for covered one- and two-family dwellings.
During transaction or occupancy review where statutory detector condition is evaluated.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

R.S. 40:1581 includes safe-harbor language on insurance payment and transfer effects, but does not provide a single statewide CO-specific fine schedule in the cited text.

R.S. 40:1581.

Additional Notes

This analysis focuses on one- and two-family statutory pathways in R.S. 40:1581.
Local building and fire authorities may apply additional requirements beyond this statute.

Official Sources & References

Louisiana Revised Statutes R.S. 40:1581 (main text) — R.S. 40:1581 (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Primary statewide carbon monoxide detector statute for covered sale and lease scenarios.
Louisiana Revised Statutes R.S. 40:1581 (sale and lease requirement sections) — Subsections B and C (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Supports transaction-trigger compliance baseline and detector condition language.
Louisiana Revised Statutes R.S. 40:1581 (generator and safe-harbor sections) — Subsections D through F (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Covers generator-install requirement and safe-harbor language related to insurance and transfer effects.
Louisiana State Fire Marshal guidance notice on Act 458 CO alarm changes — Act 458 summary guidance (agency guidance, accessed 2026-02-16)
Agency guidance summarizing detector obligations and implementation context.

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

When does Louisiana law clearly require a carbon monoxide detector?

Louisiana's clearest statewide requirement appears in R.S. 40:1581 and is tied to sale or lease events in covered one- and two-family residential settings. That means transaction timing, leasing workflow, and occupancy turnover are central compliance checkpoints. Owners and agents should confirm detector presence before closing or move-in rather than waiting for post-occupancy corrections. Louisiana files should include dated proof of detector status at each transaction milestone. In Louisiana, reference R.S. 40:1581 and local authority guidance in all transaction and compliance records.

Does Louisiana require specific detector placement inside the home?

R.S. 40:1581 requires at least one operable detector with a long-life sealed battery in covered scenarios, but the statute does not provide a detailed room-by-room placement map in the cited text. Because of that, operators should follow manufacturer guidance and any additional local code direction when choosing exact location. The key legal baseline is detector presence at the required transaction point. Louisiana owners should document why the selected location is defensible. In Louisiana, reference R.S. 40:1581 and local authority guidance in all transaction and compliance records.

What happens if a covered property is noncompliant in Louisiana?

The cited statute does not present one simple statewide CO-specific fine table, but noncompliance can still create transaction friction, inspection issues, and post-incident liability risk. R.S. 40:1581 also includes safe-harbor language about insurance and transfer effects, which can be misunderstood as broad immunity. Operators should not treat that as a substitute for compliance. Louisiana teams should correct deficiencies promptly and preserve written remediation records. In Louisiana, reference R.S. 40:1581 and local authority guidance in all transaction and compliance records.

How does the generator-installer requirement work in Louisiana?

Under R.S. 40:1581, professional installers of generators in one- and two-family dwellings must include at least one operable carbon monoxide detector with a long-life sealed battery. This requirement creates an additional compliance path beyond standard sale or lease timing. Contractors and owners should capture this step in installation contracts, commissioning checklists, and turnover records. In Louisiana projects, missing this handoff detail can create avoidable legal and safety exposure. In Louisiana, reference R.S. 40:1581 and local authority guidance in all transaction and compliance records.

Are hotels and all short-term rentals covered by the same Louisiana statute?

Not necessarily in the same way. The cited statewide statute is framed around one- and two-family residential scenarios and related transaction events, so operators should not assume it automatically maps to every lodging model. Hotel and short-term rental obligations can depend on other local or occupancy-specific code pathways not fully covered in this statewide framework. Louisiana operators should confirm classification and requirements with the local authority having jurisdiction. In Louisiana, reference R.S. 40:1581 and local authority guidance in all transaction and compliance records.

How do Louisiana transfer-trigger rules compare with Texas workflows?

Louisiana relies heavily on a sale-or-lease statutory trigger in R.S. 40:1581, while Texas operators often work through a different mix of statute duties and occupancy implementation. Regional teams should avoid one shared checklist and map state-specific trigger logic before closing, leasing, or turnover activity. For nearby-state comparison before finalizing Gulf Coast SOPs, review Texas CO detector laws and align transaction controls separately. In Louisiana, reference R.S. 40:1581 and local authority guidance in all transaction and compliance records.

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