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 New Mexico (NM), state statutes require landlords to install and maintain smoke detectors in leased residential premises. The New Mexico Fire Code, which adopts the International Fire Code, mandates the installation of smoke alarms in accordance with the code's requirements. While New Mexico law does not specify the type of smoke detectors (such as photoelectric or ionization sensors) as some other states do, landlords are responsible for ensuring that smoke detectors are present and functional to provide early warning in case of fire. Additionally, New Mexico law requires the installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide detectors in any dwelling that contains a fuel-burning appliance, has an attached garage, or is otherwise at risk for carbon monoxide exposure. Landlords must ensure that these devices are in good working order for the safety of their tenants.