Landlord Compliance

Maryland Smoke Detector & CO Alarm Requirements for Landlords (2026)

Updated June 2026 · By HBAY Property Management · Baltimore & Howard County, MD

Maryland law requires landlords to install and maintain working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in all rental properties. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor — not just a code violation — and can carry fines up to $1,000. Here's exactly what you need to have installed.

Smoke Alarm Requirements

Maryland's smoke alarm law (Public Safety Article, Title 9, Subtitle 1) applies statewide including Baltimore and Howard County. Landlords must install:

Where Smoke Alarms Must Be Installed

Inside every sleeping room (bedroom)
In the hallway or common area immediately outside each sleeping area
On every level of the dwelling, including basements and finished attics
High-rise buildings (7+ stories): also required in each interior public corridor (effective July 31, 2025)

Alarm Type Requirements

Replacement battery-only alarms must have a sealed 10-year battery and a silent/hush feature
Never replace an AC-powered (hardwired) smoke alarm with a battery-only alarm
Combination smoke + CO alarms are permitted if they meet both UL 217 (smoke) and UL 2034 (CO) standards

New for Short-Term Rentals (Effective October 1, 2026)

Maryland's SB 624 (pending signature) will require short-term rentals to have interconnected smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. If you rent on Airbnb or VRBO, plan for this requirement before October 2026.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm Requirements

Maryland law (Public Safety Article, Title 12) requires CO alarms in rental properties that have:

Fuel-burning appliances (gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces)
An attached garage

Where CO Alarms Must Be Installed

Outside and near each sleeping area (central location in the hallway outside bedrooms)
On every level of the dwelling unit, including basements

⚠️ Almost Every Baltimore/Howard County Rental Needs CO Alarms

Most Maryland homes have gas furnaces, gas water heaters, or gas stoves — all of which trigger the CO alarm requirement. When in doubt, install them. The cost ($20–$40 per alarm) is minimal compared to the liability exposure.

Combination Alarms

A single combination smoke + carbon monoxide alarm can satisfy both requirements as long as it meets UL 217 and UL 2034 standards. This is the most practical solution for most rental properties.

Landlord Responsibilities

Responsibility	Who	When
Install all required alarms	Landlord	Before tenant moves in
Verify alarms are working	Landlord	At start of each lease
Provide written maintenance instructions	Landlord	At start of each lease
Repair/replace defective alarms	Landlord	Within 5 days of written notice from tenant
Acknowledge tenant's written repair notice in writing	Landlord	Upon receipt
Test alarms periodically	Tenant	Ongoing (after move-in)
Report defective alarms to landlord	Tenant	In writing when discovered

Hard-of-Hearing Tenants

If a tenant who is deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing provides a written request, the landlord must install an appropriate alarm notification appliance — typically a strobe light or bed shaker system. The landlord cannot require the tenant to pay for this or provide documentation of their disability.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Violation is treated as a misdemeanor under Maryland law
Fines up to $1,000 per violation
If a fire investigation finds required alarms were not installed, the fire official will issue a mandatory correction order
Significant civil liability exposure if a tenant is injured or killed due to missing alarms

Baltimore County Inspection Requirement

When applying for a Baltimore County rental license, your home inspector will verify that smoke and CO alarms are properly installed. This is a required part of the inspection checklist. Baltimore County also requires a Carbon Monoxide Affidavit as part of the rental license application.

Practical Checklist for Landlords

☐ Smoke alarm inside each bedroom
☐ Smoke alarm in hallway outside each bedroom
☐ Smoke alarm on every level (including basement)
☐ CO alarm outside each sleeping area (if gas appliances or attached garage)
☐ CO alarm on every level including basement
☐ All replacement battery alarms have sealed 10-year batteries
☐ Test all alarms before tenant move-in
☐ Provide tenant with written maintenance instructions at lease signing
☐ Document installation dates and alarm locations

Let HBAY Handle the Compliance for You

Rental licenses, smoke alarms, inspections — we manage it all so you don't have to. HBAY Property Management serves Baltimore and Howard County landlords with flat-fee, full-service management.

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We handle compliance for landlords throughout Baltimore County and Howard County, including Dundalk, Essex, and Ellicott City.