All states have laws (statutes) that require landlords to install and maintain smoke detectors in leased residential premises (apartments, homes).

Some states such as Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Vermont require photoelectric or ionization sensors—at least in new construction. And Oregon requires smoke detectors with a HUSH mechanism that allows the alarm to be silenced or temporarily desensitized for 7 minutes while a known condition such as cooking is causing the alarm to activate.

Most states also require landlords to install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors in leased residential premises. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are widely available in the same device.

In Idaho, landlords are required by law to install and maintain smoke detectors in all leased residential premises. The Idaho Statutes mandate that smoke detectors must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and must be kept in working condition. While Idaho law does not specify the type of smoke detector (such as photoelectric or ionization sensors), it does require that the devices be capable of detecting visible or invisible particles of combustion. Additionally, Idaho has adopted requirements for carbon monoxide detectors in certain residential dwellings. Specifically, Idaho Code requires that carbon monoxide detectors be installed in all newly constructed one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories in height, as well as in certain existing dwellings that undergo alterations, repairs, or additions. Landlords are responsible for the installation and maintenance of these detectors to ensure the safety of their tenants.