Smoke detectors: what owners must provide
- Who: owners of all multiple dwellings, Class A and Class B.
- How many: at least one working smoke alarm in each apartment.
- Where: in Class A buildings, within 15 feet of the main entrance to each room used for sleeping. Class B buildings can instead use a line-operated, zoned system with central annunciation in all public corridors and spaces.
- Type: alarms listed to UL 217, with an end-of-life warning. Since April 1, 2019, battery-powered smoke alarms sold in New York State must have a sealed, non-removable 10-year battery. Hardwired alarms are not covered by that sales rule.
Carbon monoxide detectors: what owners must provide
- Who: owners of multiple dwellings, and of one- and two-family homes that are not owner-occupied, when the building has a fuel-burning appliance such as a gas stove, boiler, furnace or water heater.
- How many: at least one working CO alarm in each apartment.
- Where: within 15 feet of the entrance to each room used for sleeping.
- Type: alarms listed to UL 2034, with an end-of-life warning.
Buildings with no fuel-burning appliances and no enclosed parking are exempt. If the only source is attached enclosed parking, CO alarms are needed only in apartments on the parking floors and the floors directly above and below.
Combination alarms and tenant reimbursement
Owners may install one combination device instead of separate alarms, as long as its location meets the rules for each hazard it covers. A combination unit with natural gas detection must also be listed to UL 1484 to count under Local Law 157. In Class A buildings, the owner may collect a reimbursement from the tenant, who has one year from installation to pay:
| Device | Tenant reimbursement |
|---|---|
| Smoke alarm | $25 |
| CO alarm | $25 |
| Two-in-one: smoke + CO, smoke + gas, or gas + CO | $50 |
| Three-in-one: smoke + CO + gas | $75 |
Tenants in Class B buildings don’t reimburse. In non-owner-occupied one- and two-family homes, the reimbursement is $25 per CO alarm.
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Request a quoteWhen owners must replace detectors
- When the alarm reaches the end of its useful life.
- Before a new tenant moves in, if the alarm is missing, removed or not working and the previous tenant did not replace it.
- Within 30 days, if it stops working within one year of installation because of a defect and not because of the tenant.
Notices and records
Owners must post a detector notice in the building entrance area, give each apartment written information on testing and maintenance when alarms are installed, and keep records of installation dates and each alarm’s end-of-life date. HPD offers a combined sample notice that covers smoke, CO and natural gas.
What tenants must do
- Test every smoke, CO and gas alarm at least once a month.
- Replace replaceable batteries at least twice a year with the recommended type, and right away when the low-battery warning sounds.
- Never paint over, cover or disconnect an alarm.
- Replace an alarm that is stolen, removed, missing or broken during their tenancy.
Natural gas alarms are next
By January 1, 2027, Local Law 157 also requires natural gas alarms in apartments with gas appliances. See our Local Law 157 guide for placement, approved models and costs, or download our one-page Local Law 157 checklist (PDF).
Frequently asked questions
Do NYC landlords have to provide smoke detectors?
Yes. Owners of multiple dwellings must install at least one working smoke alarm in every apartment and replace it at the end of its useful life.
How many smoke detectors does an NYC apartment need?
At least one, within 15 feet of the main entrance to each bedroom. An apartment with bedrooms far apart may need more than one.
Can a landlord charge for smoke and CO detectors in NYC?
In Class A buildings, yes: $25 per smoke or CO alarm, $50 for a two-in-one combination and $75 for a three-in-one, payable within one year of installation.
Are 10-year smoke detectors required in New York?
Battery-powered smoke alarms sold in New York State since April 1, 2019 must have a sealed 10-year battery. Hardwired alarms are not covered by that sales rule.
Where should a carbon monoxide detector go in an NYC apartment?
Within 15 feet of the entrance to each room used for sleeping.
Where can I buy smoke and CO detectors in bulk in NYC?
AlarmsNY supplies smoke, CO and combination alarms listed to UL standards, by the case to landlords, property managers and contractors, delivered to all five boroughs. Call or WhatsApp (929) 421-9452.
Sources
- HPD: Smoke, Carbon Monoxide, and Natural Gas Detectors
- NYS Department of State: smoke alarm sales requirements, April 1, 2019
General information for building owners, not legal advice. Rules can change, so confirm the details for your building with HPD or DOB.