What North Dakota Requires for CO Detectors in Covered Dwellings

Last verified: February 17, 2026

North Dakota carbon monoxide detector laws are implemented through state wiring and building code pathways, especially NDAC 24.1-06-01-40 and adopted residential-code language for alarm location and device operation. The framework applies to covered dwelling settings with fuel-fired equipment or attached-garage conditions and requires sleeping-area proximity placement, story-level coverage, and bedroom placement when fuel-fired appliances are in sleeping rooms.

North Dakota also specifies power and interconnection requirements that vary by project context, including hardwired with backup pathways in new construction and permitted alternatives in existing settings. Because obligations are code-driven, owners should document trigger analysis, installation configuration, testing, and correction history.

North Dakota compliance files should preserve section-level citations and local enforcement communication. Maintain permit IDs and inspector notes with every remediation record.

Key Takeaways

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

How to verify: North Dakota 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?

Buildings with fuel-burning appliances
Buildings with attached garages
NDAC language applies to new and existing dwelling and sleeping units that contain fuel-fired appliances or attached garages.

Where to Install CO Alarms

Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms in covered units.
On each story within the dwelling unit including basement levels and excluding crawl-space and uninhabitable-attic contexts.
Inside a bedroom or sleeping room where a fuel-fired appliance is located in that room.

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

Device Requirements

Listing pathways include UL 2034 for single-station alarms and UL 217 with UL 2034 for combination units in adopted code language.
New construction pathways require primary building wiring power with battery backup in cited code provisions.
Interconnection is required when multiple alarms are required in the same dwelling unit under cited code language.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Owners in covered occupancies must install and maintain required detectors and provide operable devices at occupancy turnover.

Rental and lodging applicability is kept null here because cited technical sections do not provide one explicit occupancy-allocation matrix.

Enforcement

Enforced by: North Dakota State Fire Marshal administration and local code officials through building and safety code enforcement pathways.

Enforcement typically occurs:

During plan review, permit, and inspection workflow in covered code scenarios.
During follow-up on reported missing or non-operational detectors.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

No stand-alone statewide North Dakota fine table specific to carbon monoxide detector noncompliance was identified in the cited sections.

Cited sources describe technical requirements and enforcement via code compliance workflow.

Additional Notes

North Dakota operators should keep occupancy and trigger analysis documented because the cited framework is technical and code-driven.
Teams should preserve configuration records for power type and interconnection decisions.

Official Sources & References

North Dakota Administrative Code chapter 24.1-06-01 — 24.1-06-01-40.1 carbon monoxide alarms (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Primary statewide technical requirements for trigger, placement, power, and interconnection pathways.
North Dakota state building code book 2023 — Residential code pathways including R315 location language (building code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Building-code adoption material supporting location and installation interpretation.
North Dakota Century Code official index — Official Century Code publication and access pathway (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Legislative publication reference used for statute-verification workflow in compliance files.
North Dakota Century Code title 43 professional and occupational licensing — Title-level context used for code authority cross-reference (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Additional official code context for enforcement and implementation mapping.

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

In North Dakota files, which code citation should appear first for alarm authority?

NDAC 24.1-06-01-40 is the key technical anchor in this dataset for North Dakota carbon monoxide alarm duties in covered dwelling and sleeping contexts. It defines major trigger conditions and gives placement and operational requirements used in practical enforcement. Operators should cite section language directly in installation and inspection checklists. North Dakota files that include code references, device configuration records, and correction timelines are more defensible during review. Include permit and inspection identifiers beside each cited section.

Where must alarms be installed in covered North Dakota dwellings?

North Dakota code pathways place alarms outside sleeping areas, on each story including basements in listed scenarios, and in sleeping rooms where fuel-fired appliances are located. Teams should map room-by-room placement before inspection and preserve as-built evidence in the property file. One generic template is not enough for every layout. North Dakota compliance packets should include section-cited location rationale and installer verification details. Photo logs should show detector position relative to each sleeping area.

What power and interconnection rules apply in North Dakota?

Cited North Dakota sections use project-context logic for power and interconnection. New construction paths include hardwired with battery backup requirements, while existing-building scenarios may allow listed alternatives under the code text. Interconnection is required when more than one alarm is required in a dwelling unit. Operators should document selected configuration and code basis so future inspections or disputes can be resolved quickly. Retain electrician signoff and installed model numbers in the same file.

Is there a statewide North Dakota fine table for CO alarm violations?

The cited North Dakota sources used here do not present one stand-alone statewide fine schedule specific to carbon monoxide alarm noncompliance. Enforcement risk still exists through code administration, occupancy approvals, and broader liability outcomes when required alarms are missing. Teams should prioritize correction timelines and keep written proof of remediation. North Dakota notices should cite the governing section that triggered each corrective action. Include reopening criteria before occupancy resumes after major corrections.

What records should North Dakota teams keep before exempting an all-electric unit?

Not automatically. North Dakota exemption decisions should be based on the actual trigger language and dwelling context in the adopted code path, not only on utility profile. Attached garage and other risk conditions can still affect applicability in covered settings. Owners should obtain local interpretation when scope is uncertain and keep written rationale in the file. This reduces misclassification risk at turnover and inspection. Reassess scope whenever building layout or appliance inventory changes.

How does North Dakota compare with South Dakota regional workflows?

North Dakota in this dataset has clearer code-based technical alarm language for covered dwellings, while South Dakota relies more on targeted regulated-setting rules and local adoption outside those contexts. Regional teams should avoid a single Dakotas template without separate trigger mapping. For side-by-side planning, review South Dakota CO detector laws and compare scope model, enforcement channels, and documentation controls. Train field teams on both states so scope assumptions do not drift.

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