What New Hampshire Requires for CO Detectors and Hotel Compliance

Last verified: February 17, 2026

New Hampshire carbon monoxide detector laws are centered on RSA 153:10-a, supported by definitions in RSA 153:1 and penalty pathways in RSA 153:24. The statute covers rental units and multi-unit dwellings, including hotels and motels, when a combustion-fuel appliance or attached garage creates qualifying risk conditions. Single-family dwellings built or substantially rehabilitated after January 1, 2010 are also included in statewide scope.

New Hampshire code language addresses device location, power, and interconnection standards, while enforcement authority is assigned to the State Fire Marshal with local delegation options. Noncompliance can produce meaningful fine exposure, including higher limits for non-natural persons.

Operators should preserve occupancy classification, installation evidence, and notice-to-correction timelines to keep compliance defensible during inspections and disputes across statewide portfolios.

Quick Safety Summary

CO detector requirements for New Hampshire
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
Single-family dwellings built or substantially rehabilitated after January 1, 2010 are covered.
No alarm is required only when the dwelling has neither an attached garage nor a combustion-fuel appliance.

Where to Install CO Alarms

Install alarms outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms.
Install on every occupiable level, including basements but excluding crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics.
Install inside a bedroom when a fuel-burning appliance is located in that bedroom or attached bathroom.

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

Device Requirements

Devices must align with NFPA 720 pathways referenced in the cited statutory and administrative framework.
Combination units must satisfy both smoke and CO listing requirements where applicable.
New construction requires hardwired primary power with battery backup.
Interconnection is required in new construction when more than one alarm is required in the dwelling.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Owners of covered rental units must provide, install, and maintain required detectors in suitable condition.

Tenant: Occupants may not remove batteries, disconnect power, tamper with, or disable required devices.

Multi-unit and rental definitions include hotels and motels in the cited New Hampshire statutes.

Enforcement

Enforced by: State Fire Marshal, directly or through delegated municipal authority.

Enforcement typically occurs:

When an observed violation triggers written notice and a correction deadline.
During follow-up when required devices remain missing, inoperable, or disabled.

Local ordinances may impose stricter requirements when they do not conflict with state law.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Individuals may be fined up to $1,000 per offense, while non-natural persons may face misdemeanor-level exposure up to $20,000 per offense.

RSA 153:10-a subsection V with RSA 153:24 and RSA 651:2 penalty references.

Additional Notes

Pre-2010 owner-occupied single-family dwellings are generally outside statewide coverage unless substantially rehabilitated.
Compliance programs should track both state requirements and stricter local ordinance overlays.

Official Sources & References

New Hampshire RSA 153:10-a automatic fire warning and carbon monoxide detection devices — Subsections I through VII (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Primary statewide scope, trigger, duty, and enforcement language for CO detection devices.
New Hampshire RSA 153:1 definitions — Subsections VI, IX-a, and XI (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Defines multi-unit dwellings, rental units, and substantial rehabilitation terms used in scope decisions.
New Hampshire RSA 153:24 penalty for violation of regulations — Penalty section (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Penalty support for violations of fire safety regulations.
New Hampshire Fire Marshal informational bulletin on CO detection devices — Informational Bulletin 2015-02 (agency guidance, accessed 2026-02-17)
Supplemental implementation guidance referencing state statutory and rule pathways.

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 New Hampshire statute is the main carbon monoxide detector requirement?

RSA 153:10-a is the primary statewide legal anchor for carbon monoxide detector duties in New Hampshire. It defines covered dwelling categories, trigger conditions, enforcement authority, and correction process expectations. Compliance teams should pair this section with RSA 153:1 definitions so occupancy classification is accurate before policy rollout. A practical approach is to map each property type to the exact subsection used for scope decisions. That mapping reduces disputes during inspection and supports consistent remediation timelines.

Which buildings are covered and what triggers apply in New Hampshire?

Coverage includes rental units and multi-unit dwellings, including hotels and motels, when a combustion-fuel appliance or attached garage is present. Single-family dwellings built or substantially rehabilitated after January 1, 2010 are also covered statewide. Teams should verify both occupancy and trigger facts because scope is not determined by one label alone. Written scope determinations should document applicable subsection references and local overlays. This keeps front-line property teams aligned with legal and inspection teams. New Hampshire operators should cite RSA 153:10-a in every scope decision.

In New Hampshire, which placement and power records matter most during enforcement review?

New Hampshire requires alarms outside sleeping areas, on each occupiable level, and in bedrooms where fuel-burning appliances are located in the bedroom or attached bathroom. New construction pathways require hardwired primary power with battery backup, and interconnection applies when multiple alarms are required. Existing dwellings may have different configuration allowances under the cited framework. Installation files should include model numbers, power method, and interconnection test results. Those records help resolve enforcement questions quickly.

How can New Hampshire fine exposure escalate under RSA 153:10-a and RSA 153:24?

Penalty exposure can be significant. The cited statutory pathway supports fines up to $1,000 per offense for natural persons and up to $20,000 per offense for non-natural persons under relevant penalty sections. Because each offense can be treated separately, delayed correction can increase total risk quickly. Operators should track notice date, correction deadline, and completion proof in one auditable timeline. That evidence is often critical if a violation moves into formal enforcement or appeal channels. New Hampshire teams should reference RSA 153:24 when preparing penalty risk memoranda.

When can an all-electric New Hampshire unit still require alarms under RSA 153:10-a?

Not automatically. Exemption analysis must account for both utility profile and trigger factors such as attached-garage conditions or multi-unit context. Even where one unit is all-electric, shared-wall buildings can involve nearby combustion risks that affect compliance outcomes. Owners should document the trigger review and keep section-level citations in the property file before recording an exemption decision. Recheck that decision when renovations, occupancy type, or local code adoption changes. New Hampshire compliance teams should retain the decision memo with RSA references for each property.

How does New Hampshire compare with Maine for compliance planning?

New Hampshire relies on RSA 153:10-a with explicit statewide triggers and statutory penalty pathways, while Maine applies a different occupancy and transaction model under section 2468. Regional teams should keep separate New England workflows instead of one shared checklist. For side-by-side planning, review Maine CO detector laws and compare trigger timing, transfer duties, and enforcement channels before deploying regional procedures. New Hampshire rollout plans should include state-specific training signoff before launch.

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