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 North Carolina, state statutes require landlords to install and maintain smoke detectors in all leased residential premises. These requirements are outlined in the North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS) under the North Carolina Building Code. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that smoke detectors are operational at the beginning of a lease and must repair or replace any non-working smoke detectors promptly when notified by tenants. Additionally, North Carolina law mandates the installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide detectors in rental properties that have a fossil-fuel burning heater, appliance, or fireplace, and in any dwelling that has an attached garage. The specific requirements for the type of smoke detectors (photoelectric, ionization, or combination) and the presence of a HUSH mechanism are not explicitly stated in the general statutes, but the North Carolina Building Code may have specific provisions regarding the technology and features of the smoke detectors to be installed in new construction or during significant renovations.