What Utah Requires for CO Detectors in Homes, Rentals, Hotels

Last verified: February 17, 2026

Utah carbon monoxide detector laws are implemented through statewide construction and fire code adoption in Title 15A, including Utah amendments to IRC Section R315 and IFC Section 1103.9. Residential provisions include Utah-specific language requiring alarms on each level of the dwelling unit and permit-triggered retrofit pathways that extend to accessory dwelling units in covered scenarios. For existing buildings, Utah amends IFC Chapter 11 to require carbon monoxide detection in specified Group E, Group I, and Group R occupancies in accordance with IFC Section 915. This creates broad statewide coverage across homes, rentals, and lodging-type occupancies, but execution still depends on local enforcement workflow and code-edition application.

Utah operators should keep section-level citations, occupancy classification records, and testing documentation in each compliance file.

In 60 Seconds

CO detector requirements for Utah
Applies to homes?	Yes
Applies to rentals?	Yes
Applies to hotels/STRs?	Yes

When Are CO Alarms Required?

New construction
When building permits are required
Utah amendment to IRC Section R315.2.2 includes permit-triggered retrofit language and accessory dwelling unit applicability.
Utah IFC amendment in Section 1103.9 requires detection in specified existing occupancy groups through IFC Section 915 pathways.

Where to Install CO Alarms

Utah amendment to IRC Section R315.3 requires alarms on each level of the dwelling unit in covered residential settings.
Existing Group E, Group I, and Group R occupancies must install carbon monoxide detection as required by Utah-amended IFC Section 1103.9 and IFC Section 915.

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

Device Requirements

Device listing and technical requirements follow adopted IRC and IFC provisions referenced in Utah Code Title 15A.
Group E system testing language in Utah amendments references testing before final approval in the presence of designated fire marshal authority.

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Landlord: Covered property owners and lessors are responsible for code compliance in occupied rental units subject to adopted residential and fire code requirements.

The cited sections do not provide one separate statewide landlord-tenant carbon monoxide maintenance statute outside the code framework.

Enforcement

Enforced by: Local code officials and Utah State Fire Marshal Division authorities for adopted-code enforcement within their jurisdictions.

Enforcement typically occurs:

During permit review and inspection for residential work governed by adopted IRC pathways.
During inspection and approval workflow for existing occupancies covered by amended IFC Section 1103.9.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The cited Utah construction and fire code sections do not provide a stand-alone statewide fine schedule specific to carbon monoxide detector noncompliance.

Enforcement is handled through code-administration workflow under Utah Code Title 15A.

Additional Notes

Utah compliance should be documented by occupancy category because residential and existing-building pathways use different amendment logic.
Operators should verify local code-edition enforcement practice before finalizing policy language.

Official Sources & References

Utah Code Title 15A codified PDF — IRC and IFC amendment references including R315 and 1103.9 pathways (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Primary codified source for Utah statewide construction and fire code amendments.
Utah Code section 15A-3-202 — Amendments to IRC including Section R315 language (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Utah-specific residential amendment source including permit-triggered and level-placement language.
Utah Code section 15A-5-205.5 — Amendments to IFC Chapter 11 Section 1103.9 (state code, accessed 2026-02-17)
Existing-building carbon monoxide detection pathways for covered occupancies.
Utah State Fire Marshal division resources — Fire marshal administration and code-enforcement resources (agency guidance, accessed 2026-02-17)
Agency context for inspection and approval workflow under state fire code authority.

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 Utah sections are the main legal anchors for CO alarm requirements?

Utah Code Title 15A is the main anchor, especially section 15A-3-202 for IRC Section R315 amendments and section 15A-5-205.5 for IFC Chapter 11 Section 1103.9 amendments. Together, these provisions establish residential and existing-building detection obligations in covered occupancies. Compliance teams should not rely on one excerpt alone because trigger logic and occupancy scope differ across sections. Utah files should keep both section references in each inspection and turnover packet. Teams should include subsection identifiers in work-order logs.

How does Utah section 15A-3-202 affect residential placement?

Utah section 15A-3-202 includes amendment language for IRC Section R315 that adds Utah-specific placement and trigger detail, including alarms on each level of covered dwelling units and permit-triggered retrofit language extending to accessory dwelling units. This makes project scoping important at plan review, because the trigger event determines whether retrofit duties apply. Contractors and owners should keep permit classification and code-section notes together. Utah inspection outcomes are easier to defend when those records are complete.

Which existing occupancies are covered by Utah IFC section 1103.9?

Utah amendment language to IFC Section 1103.9 applies carbon monoxide detection pathways to specified existing Group E, Group I, and Group R occupancies in accordance with IFC Section 915. Operators should confirm occupancy classification before deciding detector scope, especially in mixed-use campuses and lodging environments. The safest method is occupancy matrix review plus section-level citation in every compliance file. Utah teams should retain testing and final approval evidence with those occupancy determinations.

In Utah, which owner-versus-occupant tasks must be documented to show compliance?

The cited Utah sections are primarily code-adoption and amendment provisions, not one standalone landlord-tenant carbon monoxide statute that assigns every maintenance task in plain language. In practice, owners and operators in covered occupancies should treat code compliance as the core duty and document how inspections, testing, and corrections are handled. Lease files should align with the locally enforced code edition and occupancy category. Utah property managers should keep written local interpretations when responsibility questions arise.

What penalties are listed in the cited Utah CO alarm sections?

The cited Utah construction and fire code sections used here do not provide a single stand-alone fine table specific to carbon monoxide detector noncompliance. That does not remove risk, because enforcement can still occur through permit, inspection, and occupancy approval workflow. Operators should correct deficiencies promptly and keep dated remediation records. Utah compliance notices should reference the governing Title 15A section so follow-up actions stay tied to the correct legal basis.

How does Utah compare with Nevada for regional compliance?

Utah in this dataset uses explicit statewide amendment language in Title 15A, while Nevada often requires jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction analysis because local adoption controls many details. Regional teams should avoid one Mountain West template without trigger and occupancy mapping in both states. For side-by-side planning, review Nevada CO detector laws and compare adoption structure, inspection workflow, and documentation controls. Utah operators should keep state-amendment references separate from Nevada local-adoption notes in regional SOP files.

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