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 Minnesota, state statutes require landlords to install and maintain smoke detectors in all leased residential premises. These smoke detectors must be installed in accordance with the State Fire Code, and landlords are responsible for ensuring that the smoke detectors are operational at the beginning of each tenancy. Tenants are responsible for maintaining the smoke detectors during their tenancy, including replacing batteries. Minnesota law also mandates the installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide detectors in residential properties. These detectors must be installed within 10 feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping purposes. Both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can be combined into a single device, which is commonly available on the market. Landlords must ensure these devices are in good working order at the start of each lease, and it is typically the tenant's responsibility to maintain them during the lease period.