Does Mississippi Require CO Detectors? County and Local Code Rules

Last verified: February 17, 2026

Mississippi carbon monoxide detector laws are driven primarily by state fire-code adoption plus county and city implementation, not by one statewide residential statute that clearly mandates alarms in every dwelling. State Fire Marshal rules adopt the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code and reference model-code pathways that local jurisdictions may apply or modify.

A documented local example appears in DeSoto County, which publishes IRC Section R315.1 language for sleeping-area placement and related trigger conditions. Because adoption can differ by jurisdiction, owners should confirm the exact code edition and enforcement process with the local authority having jurisdiction before lease-up, sale, or occupancy turnover.

A Mississippi compliance file should include local code citations, installation records, and inspection communications so decisions remain defensible if enforcement or incident review occurs.

Quick Safety Summary

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

How to verify: Mississippi does not have a clear statewide mandate for all property types. Contact your local building department or fire marshal to confirm requirements for your specific address and property type.

When Are CO Alarms Required?

Mississippi local adoption commonly follows IRC-style trigger language tied to fuel-burning equipment and attached-garage risk.

Where to Install CO Alarms

DeSoto County published IRC Section R315.1 language that places alarms outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms.

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

Device Requirements

DeSoto County published IRC Section R315.1 framework references listed alarm standards used in common code workflows.
Local jurisdictions may apply model-code installation pathways such as UL 2034 listing and NFPA 720 references where adopted.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Mississippi statewide excerpts reviewed here do not provide one complete landlord-tenant duty matrix that applies uniformly in every jurisdiction.

Enforcement

Enforced by: Mississippi State Fire Marshal framework with local authorities having jurisdiction enforcing adopted local code.

Enforcement typically occurs:

During permitting and inspection workflow where local code requires carbon monoxide alarms.
During local enforcement actions tied to adopted fire or building code requirements.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

No single statewide Mississippi carbon monoxide alarm fine schedule was identified in the cited sources.

Mississippi Fire Prevention Code adoption and local enforcement pathways were identified, but not one statewide fine table.

Additional Notes

No standalone statewide CO alarm statute identified as of 2026. Requirements depend on local adoption of model codes under Miss. Code Ann. 45-11-101 authority.
Mississippi compliance can vary by local adoption choices, so statewide assumptions without county verification are risky.
The safest workflow is jurisdiction-specific review with local code citations stored in each property record.

Official Sources & References

Mississippi Code Annotated Section 45-11-101 (Mississippi Fire Prevention Code Authority) — Miss. Code Ann. 45-11-101 through 45-11-111 granting fire prevention code authority (state code, accessed 2026-02-18)
No standalone statewide CO alarm statute identified as of 2026. Miss. Code Ann. 45-11-101 establishes the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code framework and grants the State Fire Marshal authority to adopt and enforce fire codes. CO provisions enter through adopted model codes (IFC/IBC) under this authority, with local jurisdictions controlling residential enforcement.
Mississippi Department of Insurance State Fire Marshal Rules for the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code — Rule 7.02.1 and related adoption language (fire code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Statewide fire-code adoption framework and local-jurisdiction applicability language.
DeSoto County Mississippi order adopting building codes including IRC Section R315.1 — IRC Section R315.1 excerpt in county order (local ordinance, accessed 2026-02-17)
Local published example with residential trigger, placement, and standard references.
Mississippi Department of Insurance Fire Services division — Fire code and enforcement program information (agency guidance, accessed 2026-02-17)
Agency reference for code administration and local enforcement coordination 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

Does Mississippi have one statewide law requiring CO alarms in every home?

Not as one universal residential statute in the sources cited here. Mississippi uses a State Fire Marshal adoption framework for the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code, and local jurisdictions can implement code language through their own enforcement process. That means one county may publish clear IRC Section R315.1 requirements while another jurisdiction may apply a different pathway. Mississippi owners should request local confirmation before classifying a property as covered or exempt. A written local citation is the most reliable compliance control.

What does DeSoto County show about Mississippi placement rules?

DeSoto County publishes IRC Section R315.1 text, which is useful because it gives a concrete Mississippi example of sleeping-area proximity placement and related trigger language. Operators can use that publication as a model for how local jurisdictions may enforce carbon monoxide alarm duties when statewide text is broad. It also shows why local code edition and adoption status matter in day-to-day decisions. Mississippi property teams should compare each county rule set against DeSoto wording before finalizing installation plans.

How should Mississippi landlords manage compliance when rental duties are local?

Mississippi landlords should run a jurisdiction-specific checklist that starts with local code adoption, then maps trigger conditions, installation records, and test documentation for each unit. Where local authorities use IRC Section R315.1 language, landlords should verify sleeping area placement and keep correction records for inspection follow-up. Even without one statewide landlord matrix, the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code framework still creates enforceable local obligations. Lease files should include local citations and dated maintenance evidence.

Are Mississippi hotels and short-term rentals covered by one uniform CO rule?

The cited Mississippi sources do not establish one uniform statewide hotel and short-term rental carbon monoxide rule that applies identically in every jurisdiction. Instead, practical duties often come from local code adoption and the local authority having jurisdiction. Operators should treat hotel and vacation-rental compliance as a local-code workflow, not a single statewide checkbox. Mississippi management teams should keep property-level evidence for local code edition, inspection outcomes, and corrective actions.

In Mississippi all-electric homes, which adjacent-space risks still trigger alarm duties?

No automatic statewide exemption is confirmed in the cited Mississippi sources. Local code text determines whether an all-electric dwelling is treated outside alarm triggers, and that can depend on details such as attached-garage conditions or neighboring combustion sources. Jurisdictions using IRC Section R315.1 style language may still require analysis before a unit is marked exempt. Mississippi owners should document the local interpretation in writing and retain it in the compliance file.

How does Mississippi compliance compare with Alabama workflows?

Mississippi frequently requires county-level code confirmation before installation decisions, while Alabama portfolios may rely on a different mix of statewide and local pathways depending on occupancy. Regional operators should not reuse one Gulf South template across both states without checking local adoption details and inspection practice. For side-by-side policy work, review Alabama CO detector laws and map differences in trigger language, documentation steps, and enforcement checkpoints. Mississippi teams should preserve county-specific citations in every cross-state SOP.

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