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 Colorado, state statutes require landlords to install and maintain smoke detectors in leased residential premises. Colorado Revised Statutes Section 38-45-102 mandates that smoke alarms must be installed in all residential properties. These devices must be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and building codes. Additionally, Colorado law (C.R.S. Section 38-45-103) requires the installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms in residential properties that have a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that these devices are operational at the beginning of a tenancy, and tenants are responsible for maintaining the devices during their tenancy, including replacing batteries. The law also specifies that the carbon monoxide alarms must be within 15 feet of the entrance to each bedroom or in locations as required by the applicable building code. These regulations are designed to enhance safety and provide early warning in case of fire or carbon monoxide presence.