Complying with Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Laws in Illinois
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors have helped save many lives. Illinois has codifed the necessity for these devices in the Smoke Detector Act and the Carbon Monoxide Detector Act. Following these rules can not only protect you and your family, but will also assist you in selling or leasing your home.
Smoke Detector Act — Per state law, every single-family home must have a smoke detector installed on each floor, including the basement. For other dwelling units, there must be at least one working smoke detector within 15 feet of every bedroom or other room used for sleeping purposes. All smoke detectors must be installed on the ceiling, at least 6 inches from any wall. Smoke detectors may also be installed on the wall, so long as they are between 4-6 inches away from the ceiling. Additionally, if a building contains more than one residential unit, or if the building is a mixed-use building and there is at least one residential unit, then a smoke detector must be installed on the highest ceiling of all stairwells inside the building.
Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act — Per state law, most residential units must have at least one working carbon monoxide detector within 15 feet of every bedroom or other room used for sleeping purposes.
Keep in mind that when you go to sell your home, your buyer will probably hire a professional inspector to inspect the home. Property inspectors are trained to look for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, test them, and make sure they are properly installed in appropriate locations. Having these devices installed and in working order will help your inspection go smoothly.
Additionally, if you are leasing your unit, by state law you are required to have all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed and in working order. Once your tenant has moved in, maintenance of the smoke detector becomes his resposibility, including testing and changing batteries. If there is anything seriously wrong with either the smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, then the tenant should notify the landlord in writing and the landlord should have the problem corrected.
What if I moved in somewhere and I just realized neither a smoke detector nor a carbon monoxide detector have not been installed anywhere
Hi Jacob,
You should probably have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed asap for your safety. If you own the home, it’s your responsibility. If you’re a tenant, your landlord may take care of this for you. Good luck!
If a residential astablishment doesn’t have neither a smoke detector or Carbon manoxide
Detector couldn’t the owner of the astablishment be audited
And the residential be condimmed and the owner get arrested for not complying with the fire code regulations?
Yes? Or No?
Thank you Jacob. Perhaps maybe I should get renters insurance as well. I think that would be a good start
Or perhaps maybe I should move out of where I’m at and relocate elsewhere. Or possibly turn this landlord in
Ps. This guy is a slum lord and he is to cheap to get the 2 in one smoke detector with a carbon dioxide detector.
Hi Steve, They don’t usually condemn a property because it’s missing a smoke or carbon monoxide detector. Usually they will just issue a building code violation and the landlord must then fix it.
if an inspector says there needs to be a carbon monoxide and smoke detector within 15′ of all spaces used for sleeping, whose responsibility is it, the seller or buyer?
Hi Ernest,
That’s a question with no right answer. It depends on what the parties negotiate during attorney and inspection reviews. Either party could end up responsible for it. Keep in mind that if the Buyer is getting some kind of financing that requires the smoke detectors to be in place prior to closing (such as FHA financing), then the smoke detectors will need to be installed while the seller still owns the property.