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Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms

The Importance of Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are essential safety devices that everyone should have in their homes. They help alert you to dangers like fires or carbon monoxide, which is a harmful gas you can’t see or smell.

It’s important to test your smoke alarms every month to make sure they work. You should have smoke alarms outside each bedroom and on every level of your home. Even if they seem to be working fine, replace smoke alarms every 10 years or according to the manufacturer to ensure they stay effective.

While smoke alarms warn you about fires, carbon monoxide alarms let you know when dangerous levels of carbon monoxide are present. To keep both types of alarms working well, change their batteries at least once a year or whenever they start chirping to signal a low battery.

By taking care of these important devices, you can help keep your family safe from fire and carbon monoxide risks.

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Smoke Alarms

Smoke is deadly and spreads quickly! It rises to the ceiling and fills a room fast, making it dark and hard to breathe. Working smoke alarms watch over your home 24/7, alerting you to danger and giving your family time to escape.


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Don't Ignore

Never ignore a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm! These alarms are designed to warn you of danger. If they go off, take it seriously—get everyone out and check for safety.



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What's that Sound?

A continual series of 3 beeps and a pause means smoke has been detected in the air.

A single short beep, or “chirp" every 30 to 60 seconds means the battery is low. You may need to replace the battery.


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Get Out!

If there is a fire or an alarm goes off, get out immediately and stay out.

Don’t go back inside for any reason—your safety comes first. Call 911 from outside and wait for help.



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Test. Test

Test your smoke alarms regularly to make sure they work. It’s a simple step that could save your life in a fire.

Make it a habit to test them monthly!


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Install Smoke Alarms

According to the manufacturer's instructions. On every level, including the basement. Outside bedrooms, within 21 feet of each door. Inside bedrooms, if required by building code






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Alarms for People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Smoke alarms are important for everyone, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Regular alarms may not be heard, so it’s important to use special alarms with flashing lights and vibrations. 

These features help alert people during a fire, allowing them to get out safely. Make sure to test these alarms regularly and place them in the right spots for the best safety.

Smoke Alarm Information Tabs
Low-Frequency Smoke Alarm
Strobe Smoke Alarm
Smoke Alarm with Bed Shaker

Low-Frequency Smoke Alarm

A typical smoke alarm makes a high-pitched, piercing sound; however, for many people with hearing loss, this sound is beyond their hearing range. The low-frequency smoke alarm is designed for people with high-frequency or high-pitch hearing loss. It provides a loud, low-frequency tone which is much easier for people with hearing loss to hear.

Strobe Smoke Alarm

This type of alarm has both a visual and an audible smoke alarm. The smoke alarm may be hard-wired with a battery backup to maintain the audible alarm, or may be stand-alone, battery powered, or plug into an electrical outlet. These alarms use a flashing strobe light to provide a visual alarm as well as an audible alarm.

Smoke Alarm with Bed Shaker

A low-frequency (audible), light or text (visual), and shaker (tactile) smoke alarm system. This type of alarm plugs into an electrical outlet and the shaker is placed under the pillow or mattress. It shakes when activated, produces an audible, low-frequency alarm, and some models can also visually signal users of activation.











Real Estate, Property Managment, Landlords and Tenants

Are smoke alarms required, and where should they be installed, when selling a home?

Yes, there must be smoke alarms in any property that includes a home or lodging space. Also, if someone is selling or transferring a home or lodging space under a land sale contract, they must ensure smoke alarms are installed according to state building codes and state fire marshal regulations. (ORS 479.260)

There must be a smoke alarm inside each bedroom or sleeping area and in the area outside the bedrooms, like a hallway.

If bedrooms are on an upper level, the smoke alarm must be installed in an accessible location as close as practical to the center of the ceiling directly over the stairway. Where sleeping areas are widely separated (i.e., on different levels or opposite ends of the dwelling unit) and/or where a single smoke alarm will not be enough for all sleeping areas, a smoke alarm should be installed adjacent to each sleeping area. (OAR 837-045-0050)

  • Outside bedrooms within 21 feet of all bedroom doors.
  • On each level of the home (including the basement).
  • In bedrooms, if required by building codes at the time of construction.
  • All smoke alarms are to be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

For more information, please see the smoke alarm law overview flyer.​

Are carbon monoxide alarms required when selling a home?

If a home has a carbon monoxide source, carbon monoxide alarms are required before it can be sold. Effective April 1, 2011, sellers of one- and two-family homes, manufactured homes, or multifamily housing containing a carbon monoxide source must have one or more properly functioning carbon monoxide alarms before the buildings can be sold. Homes built during or after 2011 require a carbon monoxide alarm regardless of the presence of a carbon monoxide source. (OAR 837-047-0120)

Are carbon monoxide alarms required in new home construction or remodels?

Yes. The carbon monoxide alarm requirements for new construction, reconstruction, alteration, and repair are applicable regardless of the presence of a carbon monoxide source.

Can I have battery-operated CO alarms in new construction?

Yes. Section R315.4.1 of the 2011 ORSC states, “Single station carbon monoxide​ alarms shall be battery operated or may receive their primary power from the building wiring system.” If a homeowner chooses to install the electrical plug-in type, they must have a battery backup feature.

More info: carbon monoxide alarm law overview flyer

Are smoke alarms required in rental dwelling units?

Yes. The owner of a rental unit or the owner’s authorized agent is responsible for supplying, installing, and maintaining the required smoke alarms and a written notice with instructions for testing the alarms. The notice shall be given to the tenant when the tenant first takes possession of the premises. (ORS 479.270)

If a smoke alarm is battery-operated or has a battery backup system, the landlord should supply working batteries for the alarm at the beginning of a new tenancy.

What are my obligations as a tenant?

It is the tenant's responsibility to test smoke alarms (located in a part of the dwelling unit that the tenant is entitled to occupy to the exclusion of others) as recommended by the manufacturer’s instructions and immediately notify, in writing, the owner or authorized agent of any deficiencies. Testing intervals shall not exceed six months. It is also the tenant's responsibility during the tenancy to replace any dead batteries, as needed.

A tenant must test at least once every six months, replace batteries as needed in any smoke alarm provided by the landlord, and notify the landlord in writing of any operating deficiencies. (ORS 479.275)

A tenant may not remove or tamper with a smoke alarm. Tampering includes the removal of working batteries. (ORS 479.300)

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Are carbon monoxide alarms required in rental dwelling units?

If you have a carbon monoxide source, carbon monoxide alarms are required in rental dwelling units. Effective April 1, 2011, landlords must provide properly functioning carbon monoxide alarms for one- and two-family dwellings or multifamily housing containing a carbon monoxide source. The landlord shall provide a new tenant with alarm testing instructions. If a carbon monoxide alarm is battery-operated or has a battery-operated backup system, the landlord shall supply working batteries for the alarm at the beginning of a new tenancy. (OAR 837-047-0120, 0160)

What are my obligations as a tenant?

A tenant must test, at least once every six months, and replace batteries as needed in any carbon monoxide alarm provided by the landlord and must notify the landlord in writing of any operating deficiencies. (OAR 837-047-0160)

A tenant may not remove or tamper with a carbon monoxide alarm. Tampering includes the removal of working batteries. (OAR 837-047-0170)

What if I am renting and have a carbon monoxide source, and my landlord has not provided a working carbon monoxide​ alarm?

A tenant must notify the landlord in writing of any operating deficiencies. (OAR 837-047-0160)

If the landlord receives written notice from the tenant of a deficiency in a carbon monoxide alarm, other than dead batteries, the landlord shall repair or replace the alarm. (ORS 90.317)