What South Carolina Requires for CO Alarms Under Adopted Codes

Last verified: February 17, 2026

South Carolina carbon monoxide detector laws are implemented through statewide building and fire code adoption plus statutory local enforcement authority. The 2021 South Carolina Residential Code applies IRC Section R315 pathways for one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses, while hotel and Group R contexts are addressed through adopted IBC and IFC provisions such as Section 908.7 and Section 1103.9 where fuel-related risk conditions are present.

South Carolina Code Title 6 Chapter 9 governs local enforcement authority and includes civil penalty language for building-code violations, including first-violation and continued-violation exposure. Because compliance crosses occupancy types, owners should map trigger conditions, placement, and inspection timing by property class.

South Carolina files should preserve code citations, correction notices, and reinspection outcomes for each covered property.

Quick Safety Summary

CO detector requirements for South Carolina
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
When building permits are required
Existing dwelling obligations can be triggered by permit-required alterations repairs and additions under IRC Section R315 pathways.
Exterior-only work exceptions may apply in some existing-building scenarios under adopted code language.

Where to Install CO Alarms

Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms.
On occupiable levels as required by adopted residential-code pathways.
In bedroom placement scenarios where a fuel-burning appliance is located in the bedroom or attached bathroom under code text.

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

Device Requirements

UL 2034 listing for single-station carbon monoxide alarms.
UL 217 plus UL 2034 for combination smoke and carbon monoxide units where combination devices are used.
UL 2075 pathways for system-based carbon monoxide detection alternatives where permitted.
Hardwired power with battery backup and interconnection requirements apply in adopted-code scenarios for new work.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Property owners and landlords in covered occupancies must maintain building-code compliance at construction and permit-triggered milestones.

The cited South Carolina framework is code-driven and does not provide one separate statewide landlord-tenant maintenance statute dedicated only to carbon monoxide alarms.

Enforcement

Enforced by: Local building officials municipalities and counties under South Carolina Code section 6-9-10 and section 6-9-30, with State Fire Marshal jurisdiction in designated contexts.

Enforcement typically occurs:

During permit issuance plan review and inspection workflow.
During enforcement actions and civil penalty proceedings under section 6-9-80 for unresolved code violations.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

South Carolina Code section 6-9-80 allows a first civil fine up to $200, then up to $2,000 after cure opportunity, with continuing violations treated as separate daily offenses.

South Carolina Code section 6-9-80(B) and section 6-9-80(C).

Additional Notes

South Carolina operators should keep occupancy-specific compliance checklists for residential and lodging portfolios.
Civil penalty exposure should be tracked with correction deadlines and documented remediation steps.

Official Sources & References

South Carolina Building Codes Council adoption page — 2021 South Carolina Residential Code including IRC Section R315 (building code, accessed 2026-02-17)
State adoption source for residential carbon monoxide alarm requirements.
South Carolina Building Codes Council adoption page for IBC and IFC — 2021 South Carolina Building Code and Fire Code including IBC 908.7 and IFC 1103.9 pathways (fire code, accessed 2026-02-17)
State adoption context for hotel and Group R detection requirements.
South Carolina Code Title 6 Chapter 9 — Section 6-9-10, Section 6-9-30, Section 6-9-80 (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Enforcement authority, building-official appointment requirements, and civil penalty language.
South Carolina Code section 6-9-80 — 6-9-80(B) and 6-9-80(C) (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Specific penalty schedule for code violations including continuing-violation treatment.

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 South Carolina code sections drive CO alarm duties for homes and rentals?

Yes, for covered occupancies under adopted South Carolina code pathways. The 2021 South Carolina Residential Code applies IRC Section R315 requirements to one-family and two-family residential contexts, and rental operators in covered properties should treat those requirements as enforceable building-code obligations. Compliance should be documented at permit and inspection checkpoints, not only after occupancy complaints. South Carolina files should retain section citations, placement records, and correction evidence for each dwelling.

What penalty exposure exists in South Carolina for unresolved violations?

South Carolina Code section 6-9-80 provides civil penalty structure for building-code violations. The statute allows a first violation penalty up to $200, then higher exposure up to $2,000 after cure opportunity, with each continuing day treated as a separate offense in covered cases. This means delay in remediation can materially increase risk. South Carolina operators should track notice dates, cure deadlines, and reinspection results in the same compliance record. Management teams should also keep legal review notes for repeat findings.

Which lodging and hotel settings are covered in South Carolina code?

South Carolina adoption materials reference IBC and IFC pathways, including Section 908.7 and Section 1103.9 use-group scenarios where carbon monoxide detection is required. Hotel and Group R compliance should therefore be reviewed through the adopted building and fire code mix, not through residential text alone. Operators should classify occupancy and trigger conditions before installation decisions are finalized. South Carolina lodging files should store occupancy determination notes with the applicable section references.

Where should alarms be installed under South Carolina residential code?

Under adopted IRC Section R315 pathways in South Carolina, alarms are generally placed outside sleeping areas with additional level and bedroom conditions in specified scenarios. Placement, listing, interconnection, and power requirements should be verified against the adopted edition used by the local authority having jurisdiction. Teams should avoid generic templates and document room-level decisions for each property. South Carolina inspection packets should keep plan markups and installed-device evidence with section citations.

Are all-electric South Carolina units always exempt from alarm duties?

Not always. South Carolina exemption analysis should be based on adopted trigger language and occupancy context, including attached-garage and other code-defined risk pathways where applicable. Owners should obtain local interpretation before recording an exemption decision, especially in mixed-use or multifamily settings. A written local determination provides stronger defensibility than assumptions. South Carolina compliance files should preserve the exemption basis and the jurisdiction that approved it. Keep dated approval records with property turnover packets.

For Carolinas operators, what South Carolina control differs most from Florida practice?

South Carolina in this dataset uses statewide adopted code pathways plus Title 6 Chapter 9 enforcement language, while Florida operators often navigate a different mix of state and local implementation detail by occupancy. Regional teams should maintain separate Southeast compliance matrices instead of one shared template. For side-by-side planning, review Florida CO detector laws and compare trigger events, penalty posture, and inspection workflow. South Carolina teams should capture state-specific enforcement timelines before launching regional policy updates.

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