Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Alarms
G.S. 42-42 — working alarms at move in, and 15 days to repair after written notice
In North Carolina, the landlord provides working smoke alarms, makes sure they work at the start of each tenancy, and replaces or repairs one within 15 days of the tenant's written notice. Unless a written agreement says otherwise, the landlord puts new batteries in at the start of the tenancy and the tenant replaces them as needed after. A new or replacement smoke alarm installed after December 31, 2012 is a tamper resistant, 10 year lithium battery alarm, unless the unit has a hardwired alarm with a battery backup or a combined smoke and carbon monoxide alarm.
A unit with a fossil fuel burning heater, appliance or fireplace, or an attached garage, gets at least one working carbon monoxide alarm per level, on the same terms: working at the start of the tenancy, and replaced or repaired within 15 days of written notice.
Up to $250 for each violation after 30 days. A landlord who fails to provide, install, replace or repair a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm within 30 days of written notice from the tenant or a state or local government agent commits an infraction, with a fine of up to $250 for each violation.
A tenant who disables or damages an alarm reimburses the landlord's reasonable cost within 30 days of written notice; failing to is an infraction with a fine of up to $100 for each violation. A tenant may disconnect an alarm briefly to change batteries or when it goes off by mistake.
Sources for this section (2)
- G.S. 42-42 — Landlord to provide fit premises
- G.S. 42-44 — General remedies, penalties, and limitations
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.