CO Detector Requirements in Oregon: Landlord Duties and Transfers

Last verified: February 17, 2026

Oregon carbon monoxide detector laws combine statute, administrative rule, and residential code pathways. ORS sections 105.836 through 105.842 establish statewide legal requirements tied to dwellings with a carbon monoxide source, while State Fire Marshal rules in OAR 837-047 define applicability, testing expectations, transfer and rental timing, and operational duties.

The Oregon Residential Specialty Code Section R315 supplies technical placement, interconnection, listing, and power requirements for new and permit-triggered construction contexts. This creates broad statewide coverage across homes, rentals, and lodging settings that meet the rule's dwelling definitions.

Oregon compliance should be managed as an event-based workflow for sale, lease, permit, and occupancy milestones with documented section citations and correction records. Operators should store transaction and rental event timestamps with alarm verification evidence.

In 60 Seconds

CO detector requirements for Oregon
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
Home sales or property transfers
When building permits are required
At commencement of a new rental or lease agreement for a dwelling with a carbon monoxide source under OAR 837-047.
At conveyance or transfer events for covered dwellings with a carbon monoxide source under ORS and OAR pathways.

Where to Install CO Alarms

Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms under ORSC Section R315.
On each story or level of the dwelling unit as required by ORSC Section R315.
In existing-dwelling pathways, OAR 837-047 includes sleeping-area proximity and bedroom-door-distance language for covered units.

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

Device Requirements

Single-station alarms listed to UL 2034 under ORSC Section R315.
Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms listed to both UL 217 and UL 2034 where combination units are used.
Carbon monoxide detection systems listed to UL 2075 with NFPA 720 pathway references where system alternatives are permitted.
Interconnection and power-source requirements follow ORSC Section R315 and OAR 837-047 provisions.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Landlords must provide required working alarms at the start of covered rental agreements and maintain code-compliant installation under OAR 837-047.

Tenant: Tenants must test alarms at required intervals, report deficiencies, and avoid removing or disabling required devices under OAR 837-047.

Oregon uses definitions in OAR 837-047 to determine when lodging-type occupancies are treated as covered dwellings.

Enforcement

Enforced by: Oregon State Fire Marshal for rule adoption and administration, with local building and code authorities handling local inspection and enforcement workflow.

Enforcement typically occurs:

At sale and transfer events for covered dwellings under ORS and OAR requirements.
At rental commencement and during permit or inspection checkpoints for covered properties.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

ORS 105.840 allows an aggrieved purchaser or transferee to recover the greater of actual damages or $250 per residential unit, plus reasonable attorney fees, for covered sale noncompliance.

ORS 105.840.

Additional Notes

Oregon requirements should be documented by event type, especially sale, lease start, permit, and occupancy transitions.
Operators should keep statute and code citations together to support enforcement and transaction review.

Official Sources & References

Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 105 carbon monoxide alarm sections — ORS 105.836 through ORS 105.842 including ORS 105.840 remedy language (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Statutory framework for scope, sale and transfer obligations, and civil remedy language.
Oregon Administrative Rules OAR 837-047 — OAR 837-047-0100 through 837-047-0160 (fire code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Definitions, applicability, testing, rental timing, and operational obligations.
Oregon Residential Specialty Code summary of amendments — Section R315 carbon monoxide alarms (building code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Placement, listing, interconnection, and power requirements in residential code context.
Oregon State Fire Marshal carbon monoxide alarms page — Public guidance and code reference overview (agency guidance, accessed 2026-02-17)
State guidance page supporting implementation and public-facing compliance context.
Oregon Building Codes Division code interpretation carbon monoxide alarms — Code interpretation on new and existing dwelling scenarios (agency guidance, accessed 2026-02-17)
Implementation guidance used to interpret permit and existing-building scenarios.

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

Are carbon monoxide alarms required by Oregon law?

Yes. Oregon uses ORS 105.836 through 105.842 plus OAR 837-047 and ORSC Section R315 to create statewide carbon monoxide alarm obligations for covered dwellings. This is not only a construction rule; transfer and rental timing also matter when a carbon monoxide source is present. Owners should classify occupancy and trigger event before deciding scope. Oregon compliance records should include the exact ORS and OAR sections used for each decision so enforcement and transaction review can be handled quickly.

What penalty exposure exists for Oregon sale noncompliance?

ORS 105.840 provides a specific civil remedy path in covered sale scenarios. An aggrieved purchaser or transferee may recover the greater of actual damages or $250 per residential unit, plus reasonable attorney fees, when statutory alarm obligations are not met. This remedy model means documentation gaps can create direct financial exposure even before broader liability is considered. Oregon sellers and agents should verify alarm compliance early and preserve records before transfer milestones.

In Oregon transfer cases, which alarm location checkpoints should be documented first?

Oregon Residential Specialty Code Section R315 uses sleeping-area proximity and level-based placement requirements, and OAR 837-047 adds operational detail for covered existing-dwelling contexts. Device placement should be mapped room by room and verified against the adopted code language for the project type. Teams should also capture listing, power, and interconnection choices in the same record. Oregon inspection outcomes are easier to defend when placement evidence and section citations are stored together.

In Oregon rentals, which notice-to-repair records should landlords and tenants both sign?

Oregon OAR 837-047 assigns duties on both sides of the rental relationship. Landlords must provide required working alarms at the start of covered agreements, and tenants must test, report deficiencies, and avoid tampering with required devices. This split should be reflected in lease packets, move-in checklists, and maintenance workflows. Oregon operators should keep dated notices and repair records so role performance can be shown during disputes or code enforcement review.

For Oregon all-electric units, which adjacent-source checks are required before exemption?

Not always. Oregon scope is tied to statutory and rule definitions, including whether a covered carbon monoxide source condition exists under ORS and OAR language. Some properties may still require careful review even when utility descriptions look simple at first glance. Owners should avoid blanket assumptions and request clarification from the local authority when needed. Oregon files should include written exemption reasoning tied to the governing section text. Keep that determination with lease and transfer records for audit continuity.

For Oregon teams, which documentation control differs most from Washington procedures?

Oregon compliance in this dataset combines statute remedies, State Fire Marshal rules, and residential code requirements, while Washington operators may rely on a different state and local implementation mix. Regional teams should keep separate Pacific Northwest checklists rather than one shared template. For side-by-side process design, review Washington CO detector laws and compare trigger timing, remedy pathways, and inspection documentation controls. Oregon teams should preserve statute and rule citations separately in cross-state SOP binders.

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