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 Nebraska, state statutes require landlords to install and maintain smoke detectors in leased residential premises. Nebraska Revised Statute 81-502 mandates that smoke detectors must be installed in accordance with the State Fire Marshal's standards. These detectors should be present in all sleeping areas and on every level of the rental unit, including basements but not necessarily attics. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that smoke detectors are operational at the beginning of each tenancy. Tenants are responsible for maintaining the smoke detectors during their tenancy, which includes testing and replacing batteries. Regarding carbon monoxide detectors, Nebraska Revised Statute 70-2107 requires that carbon monoxide detectors be installed in any residence that contains a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage. These detectors must be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and are required in newly constructed homes as well as at the change of occupancy in rental properties. Landlords must ensure the carbon monoxide detectors are in working order at the beginning of a tenancy.