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 Hampshire, state statutes require landlords to install and maintain smoke detectors in all leased residential premises. According to New Hampshire RSA 153:10-a, smoke detectors must be installed in each rental dwelling unit, on each story in the vicinity of bedrooms and on all levels of the unit, including basements but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In addition, New Hampshire law mandates the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in all rental units that contain a carbon monoxide source. This is outlined in RSA 153:10-a and RSA 153:10-b. The law specifies that it is the responsibility of the landlord to both install and maintain these detectors in working order. While New Hampshire law does not specify the type of smoke detector technology to be used (such as photoelectric or ionization), landlords must ensure that the devices are approved by a recognized testing laboratory and are installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions and applicable state requirements.