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 Virginia, state statutes require landlords to install and maintain smoke detectors in leased residential premises. The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act mandates that landlords must provide smoke detectors in accordance with the Uniform Statewide Building Code. This code specifies the type, number, and placement of smoke detectors required in residential units. While Virginia law does not specify the need for photoelectric or ionization sensors as some other states do, it does require the devices to be maintained in good working order. Additionally, Virginia law requires the installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide detectors in rental properties that contain a carbon monoxide source. This includes properties with an attached garage or a fossil-fuel burning appliance, fireplace, or heater. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that these detectors are present and functioning at the beginning of each tenancy, and tenants are responsible for maintaining the detectors during their tenancy, including replacing batteries.