CO Detector Rules in Ohio: Fire Code Compliance and Penalties

Last verified: February 16, 2026

Ohio carbon monoxide detector laws are implemented through the Ohio Fire Code, especially Section 915 for new occupancies and Section 1103.9 for existing occupancies. Coverage extends across multiple occupancy groups, including many residential and lodging uses, when fuel-burning conditions or attached garages create CO risk.

The framework also includes school-related provisions and device listing expectations tied to recognized standards. Because enforcement can involve inspection citations and ongoing civil-penalty exposure under Ohio law, owners should maintain documented testing, repair, and replacement procedures.

Compliance in Ohio is strongest when occupancy classification, placement, maintenance records, periodic management audits, and corrective-action closeout logs are handled together as one fire-code program. This integrated approach is especially important for multi-site operators that manage hotels, multifamily assets, and education occupancies under different local inspection routines.

In 60 Seconds

CO detector requirements for Ohio
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

Where to Install CO Alarms

Outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms. Where a fuel-burning appliance is located within a bedroom or its attached bathroom, CO detection shall be installed within the bedroom.
Installed in sleeping units (exception allows installation outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping unit where the sleeping unit or its attached bathroom does not contain a fuel-burning appliance and is not served by a forced-air furnace).
Installed in classrooms in Group E; CO alarm signals must be automatically transmitted to an on-site location staffed by school personnel (exception for occupant load ≤ 30).

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

Device Requirements

CO alarms (UL 2034)
CO detection systems (NFPA 720; detectors UL 2075)
Combination CO/smoke alarms listed to UL 2034 and UL 217 (acceptable alternative to CO alarms).
Combination CO/smoke detectors listed to UL 2075 and UL 268 (acceptable alternative in detection systems).
New buildings: CO alarms must be hardwired to building wiring where served from a commercial source with battery backup; battery-only acceptable where building has no commercial power.
Existing buildings: For existing buildings subject to 1103.9, CO alarms are allowed to be solely battery operated.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: ORC §5321.04(A)(1) — comply with all applicable building, housing, health, and safety codes. (A)(2) — make all repairs to keep premises fit and habitable. (A)(4) — maintain electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating fixtures. This incorporates Ohio Fire Code CO detection requirements.

Tenant: ORC §5321.05(A)(5) — comply with all applicable state and local housing, health, and safety codes. (A)(6) — refrain from intentionally/negligently destroying fixtures. Battery replacement allocation often depends on lease terms.

Ohio Fire Code text cited here does not assign landlord/tenant/operator responsibility; obligations generally fall to the building/occupancy responsible party under fire code enforcement.

Enforcement

Enforced by: Ohio State Fire Marshal (primary statewide authority), assistant fire marshals, and certified fire safety inspectors (local fire departments).

Enforcement typically occurs:

Citation issued upon inspection per ORC §3737.42 with reasonable promptness.
Reasonable time given to correct; de minimis violations may receive notice in lieu of citation.
Right to appeal via State Board of Building Appeals (§3737.43).

Specific enforcement authority/procedures and penalties are not stated in the cited CO detection sections; enforcement is generally under fire code officials per the Ohio Fire Code administration provisions.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Serious violation: civil penalty up to $1,000 per violation. Non-serious violation: up to $1,000 per violation. Failure to correct after citation: up to $1,000 per day continuing. Due consideration given to gravity, good faith, and history.

ORC §3737.51 (effective October 24, 2024, as amended by SB 112)

Additional Notes

Sale/transfer trigger: not specified in Section 915 or 1103.9.
Building permit trigger: not specified; requirements are fire-code based (new vs existing).
Hotels/short-term rentals: covered where the building/space is classified as a Group R occupancy (e.g., hotels/motels); short-term rental classification may vary locally.

Official Sources & References

Ohio Administrative Code — Rule 1301:7-7-09 (Fire protection systems), Section 915 Carbon monoxide detection (official PDF) — Paragraph (O) Section 915 (fire code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Official Ohio Administrative Code PDF as published on codes.ohio.gov (may be slow to fetch in some environments).
Ohio Administrative Code — Rule 1301:7-7-11 (Construction requirements for existing buildings), Section 1103.9 Carbon monoxide alarms (official PDF) — Paragraph (C)(9) 1103.9 (fire code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Official Ohio Administrative Code PDF as published on codes.ohio.gov (may be slow to fetch in some environments).
LII / Cornell Law School — Ohio Admin. Code 1301:7-7-09 (includes OFC Section 915 text) — (O) Section 915 Carbon monoxide detection (915.1–915.6) (secondary index, accessed 2026-02-16)
Secondary, but provides readable full text; cross-check against official PDFs above.
LII / Cornell Law School — Ohio Admin. Code 1301:7-7-11 (includes OFC Section 1103.9 text) — (C)(9) 1103.9 Carbon monoxide alarms (deadline and battery-only allowance) (secondary index, accessed 2026-02-16)
Secondary, but provides readable full text; cross-check against official PDFs above.
ORC §5321.04 — Landlord Obligations — §5321.04(A) (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Landlord duty to comply with safety codes including Ohio Fire Code CO requirements.
ORC §3737.51 — Civil Penalties — §3737.51(B)–(H) (state code, accessed 2026-02-16)
Civil penalty schedule for fire code violations.

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 Ohio occupancies are covered by Fire Code Section 915?

Section 915 of the Ohio Fire Code applies to several occupancy groups, including many residential and lodging scenarios where carbon monoxide risk conditions exist. Coverage is triggered by factors such as fuel-burning appliances, fuel-burning forced-air systems, or attached garages, not just by property label. Hotels and similar Group R occupancies can fall directly within this framework. Compliance teams should verify occupancy classification at plan stage, because a classification error can lead to placement mistakes and reinspection delays. In Ohio, occupancy mapping is a core legal step, not a paperwork formality.

How does Ohio handle existing buildings under Section 1103.9?

Section 1103.9 addresses existing-building obligations and required retrofit timing for covered occupancies. It allows some flexibility, including battery-only options in defined scenarios, but it does not remove the duty to install compliant alarms where triggers apply. Owners of older multifamily or lodging assets should review both Section 915 and Section 1103.9 together because one governs baseline coverage and the other governs existing-building application. A combined reading is necessary for accurate capital planning, especially when major repairs or occupancy changes are underway.

What penalties can follow Ohio CO alarm noncompliance?

Ohio enforcement can include civil penalties under ORC Section 3737.51, including per-violation and continuing daily exposure when cited conditions are not corrected. The exact amount depends on seriousness, correction behavior, and enforcement history. This means delayed remediation can become significantly more expensive than prompt correction. Operators should treat inspection findings as time-sensitive legal obligations and document closeout of every corrective item. In addition to direct penalties, unresolved violations can affect occupancy approvals and insurance posture in incident investigations.

What Ohio building features can prevent an all-electric exemption decision?

In many cases, all-electric units without attached garages or other carbon monoxide source conditions may fall outside typical trigger pathways, but owners should verify local interpretation before relying on that assumption. Multi-unit buildings can still present shared-risk scenarios if neighboring spaces contain fuel-burning equipment. Because Ohio rules are tied to occupancy and source conditions, each property should be reviewed by actual building configuration, not marketing description. Many owners install alarms in borderline cases as a risk-management measure even when explicit trigger language may not require them.

How does Ohio framework differ from Pennsylvania Act 121?

Ohio uses a broader fire-code structure with occupancy-based coverage and enforcement pathways, while Pennsylvania Act 121 is narrower and focused on defined multifamily contexts plus local overlays. For regional operators, the difference affects budgeting, inspection planning, and legal documentation. Ohio files should highlight Section 915 and Section 1103.9 triggers, while Pennsylvania files should begin with Act 121 scope analysis. For direct comparison with Pennsylvania targeted model, review Pennsylvania CO detector laws before aligning cross-state SOPs.

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