CO Detector Requirements in New Jersey: Homes, Hotels, Transfers

Last verified: February 17, 2026

New Jersey carbon monoxide detector laws are anchored in N.J. Stat. section 52:27D-133.3 and related Uniform Fire Code and hotel-multiple-dwelling rules, creating broad statewide obligations across covered homes, rentals, and many lodging occupancies. The legal model combines trigger events and occupancy-specific placement rules with certification workflow at sale, lease, and occupancy milestones.

New Jersey also provides explicit penalty language, including a fine of up to $100 for covered transactions that proceed without required compliance. Because duties can involve owners, sellers, and operators under different code pathways, compliance should be run as a lifecycle process rather than a one-time installation event.

New Jersey files should preserve statutory citations, inspection outcomes, replacement records, and role assignments for each unit or guest-room context.

Key Takeaways

CO detector requirements for New Jersey
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
Home sales or property transfers
Change of occupancy in covered one- and two-family contexts can trigger certificate workflow.
Uniform Fire Safety Act certificate pathways can trigger compliance before lease, sale, or occupancy.

Where to Install CO Alarms

One- and two-family dwellings in Use Groups R-3 and R-4 follow placement rules referenced by N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.9 and related code sections.
Groups I-1, R-1, and R-2 require alarms in the immediate vicinity of each sleeping area in guestrooms or dwelling units.
Hotels and multiple dwellings require alarms in the immediate vicinity of sleeping areas in each dwelling unit and guestroom under N.J.A.C. 5:10-28.1.
Other existing covered buildings require alarms near potential carbon monoxide sources as specified by Uniform Fire Code pathways.

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

Device Requirements

Carbon monoxide sensor devices listed to UL 2034 or equivalent and labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory under section 52:27D-133.3.
Carbon monoxide detection systems listed to UL 2075 where system pathways are used.
NFPA 720 referenced in New Jersey statutory and code framework for installation methodology.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Covered owners and landlords must not permit occupancy, lease, or sale without required compliance and must maintain required alarms in covered dwelling contexts.

Tenant battery and routine testing duties are not fully specified in the cited New Jersey sections referenced here.

Enforcement

Enforced by: Local enforcing agency under the Uniform Fire Safety Act, and Division of Fire Safety where it is the enforcing agency.

Enforcement typically occurs:

At certificate and inspection checkpoints tied to sale, lease, or occupancy in covered properties.
During Uniform Fire Code enforcement when required alarms are missing, disabled, or noncompliant.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

New Jersey law allows a fine of up to $100 for selling, leasing, or permitting occupancy without required carbon monoxide sensor compliance.

N.J. Stat. section 52:27D-133.3(e).

Additional Notes

New Jersey compliance should track both statutory text and occupancy-specific code sections for accurate implementation.
Transfer and lease workflow should include certificate checkpoints before occupancy is permitted.

Official Sources & References

New Jersey Statutes section 52:27D-133.3 — 52:27D-133.3 (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Core statute for certificate trigger, device definition, and penalty language.
New Jersey Statutes section 52:27D-133.4 — 52:27D-133.4 (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Rulemaking section referencing NFPA 720 framework.
New Jersey Uniform Fire Code carbon monoxide detection summary — N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.9 cross-reference summary (fire code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Official Division of Fire Safety summary of code pathways by occupancy type.
New Jersey Uniform Fire Code N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.9 — 5:70-4.9(d) (fire code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Placement and listing framework for covered existing-building occupancies.
Regulations for maintenance of hotels and multiple dwellings N.J.A.C. 5:10-28.1 — 5:10-28.1 (building code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Hotel and multiple-dwelling placement and device requirements.
New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Bulletin 2017-1 — Bulletin 2017-1 (agency guidance, accessed 2026-02-17)
Official guidance bulletin supporting implementation of Uniform Fire Code CO detection requirements.

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 New Jersey require carbon monoxide alarms in homes and rentals?

Yes. New Jersey Statutes section 52:27D-133.3 establishes statewide carbon monoxide sensor requirements tied to covered occupancy and certificate workflow, and related code sections extend placement detail by use group. In practice, this reaches many homes and rental settings, not only one narrow building class. Owners should map occupancy category, trigger event, and applicable code section before sale or lease activity. New Jersey compliance files should keep section-level citations with inspection outcomes and correction records.

What triggers enforcement at sale, lease, or occupancy in New Jersey?

New Jersey uses certificate and inspection checkpoints under section 52:27D-133.3 and Uniform Fire Safety Act pathways to control sale, lease, and occupancy events. If required carbon monoxide sensor devices are missing or noncompliant, the transaction or occupancy process can face enforcement consequences. Operators should handle detector verification early, not at the last day before closing or move-in. New Jersey teams should attach proof of compliance to certificate workflow documents for each covered unit.

Where must alarms be installed under New Jersey code pathways?

Placement depends on occupancy class. New Jersey Uniform Fire Code section 5:70-4.9 and hotel and multiple-dwelling rule section 5:10-28.1 use sleeping-area proximity language for covered guestrooms and dwelling units, with additional source-proximity provisions for other existing building contexts. Because rules vary by use group, one placement template is not sufficient. New Jersey managers should document occupancy classification and placement rationale in each inspection file. Property packets should also keep the exact section citation used for every installed alarm location decision.

What penalty applies for New Jersey CO detector noncompliance?

Section 52:27D-133.3(e) allows a fine of up to $100 for covered sale, lease, or occupancy activity that proceeds without required carbon monoxide sensor compliance. While the dollar amount may appear modest, unresolved violations can still delay transactions and increase liability exposure after incidents. Property teams should correct deficiencies immediately and keep dated remediation proof. New Jersey notices should cite section 52:27D-133.3(e) whenever penalty exposure is communicated. Inspection correspondence should be filed with certificate documents to show timely correction.

How should New Jersey hotel and multifamily operators run compliance?

Operators should use N.J.A.C. 5:10-28.1 for hotel and multiple-dwelling placement duties, then pair those requirements with Uniform Fire Code and statutory certificate obligations. A strong process includes room-level installation logs, testing records, and escalation steps when any device fails. This is especially important in New Jersey where occupancy turnover and code enforcement can happen on tight timelines. Keeping one consolidated compliance packet per property reduces audit and dispute risk. Teams should include both N.J.A.C. and statutory citations in that packet.

How does New Jersey compare with New York on compliance structure?

New Jersey combines statutory certificate triggers with occupancy-specific code sections under a unified state framework, while New York operators may follow a different statutory and local code blend depending on jurisdiction and building class. Multi-state portfolios should avoid a single Northeast template across both states. For side-by-side policy design, review New York CO detector laws and compare trigger timing, placement text, and enforcement workflow. New Jersey files should preserve section 52:27D-133.3 references separately from New York citations.

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