Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

One & Two Family Dwellings

Homes built prior to 1976

• Smoke detectors outside sleeping area and on each level (including basement)
• Smoke detectors can be battery operated
• Smoke detectors not required to be interconnected
• Smoke detectors required every 1,000 sq./ft.
• Carbon monoxide detectors outside sleeping areas and on each finished level
• Carbon monoxide detectors can be battery operated
• Carbon monoxide detectors not required to be interconnected
• Plug in carbon monoxide detectors are not permitted
• All detectors cannot be more than 10 years old
   

Homes built January 1, 1977 through December 31, 2001

• Smoke detectors outside sleeping area and on each level (including basement)
• Smoke detectors hard-wired with battery backup
• Smoke detectors shall be required to be interconnected
• Smoke detectors required every 1,000 sq./ft.
• Carbon monoxide detectors outside sleeping areas and on each finished level
• Carbon monoxide detectors can be battery operated
• Carbon monoxide detectors not required to be interconnected
• Plug in carbon monoxide detectors are not permitted
• All detectors cannot be more than 10 years old
   

Homes built January 1,2002 through February 19, 2004

• Smoke detectors outside sleeping area and on each level (including basement)
• Smoke detectors hard-wired with battery back up
• Smoke detectors required to be interconnected
• Smoke detectors required every 1,000 sq./ft.
• Carbon monoxide detectors outside sleeping areas and on each finished level
• Carbon monoxide detectors hard -wired with battery backup
• Carbon monoxide detector required to be interconnected
• Plug in carbon monoxide detectors are not permitted
• All detectors cannot be more than 10 years old
   

Homes built February 20,2004 through December 31,2012

• Smoke detectors inside each bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on each level (including basement)
• Smoke detectors hard-wired with battery backup
• Smoke detectors required to be interconnected
• Smoke detectors required at bottom of basement stairs *
• Smoke detectors required every 1,000 sq./ft.
• Carbon monoxide detectors outside sleeping areas and on each level including basement
• Carbon monoxide detectors hard-wired with battery backup
• Carbon monoxide detectors required to be interconnected
• Plug in carbon monoxide detectors are not permitted
• Heat detectors required in attached garages
• All detectors cannot be more than 10 years old
   

Homes built on and after January 1, 2013

• Smoke detectors inside each bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on each level (including basement)
• Smoke detectors hard-wired with battery backup
• Smoke detectors required to be interconnected
• Smoke detectors required at bottom of basement stairs*
• Smoke detectors required every 1,000 sq./ft.
• Carbon monoxide detectors outside sleeping areas and on each level including basement
• Carbon monoxide detectors hard-wired with battery backup
• Carbon monoxide detectors required to be interconnected
• Plug in carbon monoxide detectors not permitted
• Heat detectors required in attached garage
• Al detectors cannot be more than 10 years old

*Per Rhode Island Board of Appeal and Review blanket variance dated January 15, 2013 – File # 13-01

(interpretation)                                                                                                                                 Updated October 1st, 2023