Alaska Stat. § 18.70.095 § 18.70.095
Smoke and carbon monoxide detection devices
Operative Text
(a) Smoke detection devices shall be installed and maintained in all dwelling units in the state, and carbon monoxide detection devices shall be installed and maintained in all qualifying dwelling units in the state. The smoke detection devices must be of a type and shall be installed in a manner approved by the state fire marshal. The carbon monoxide detection devices must have an alarm and shall be installed and maintained according to manufacturers' recommendations. (b) In a dwelling unit occupied under the terms of a rental agreement or under a month-to-month tenancy, (1) at the time of each occupancy, the landlord shall provide smoke detection devices and, if the dwelling unit is a qualifying dwelling unit, carbon monoxide detection devices; the devices must be in working condition, and, after notification of any deficiencies by the tenant, the landlord shall be responsible for repair or replacement; and (2) the tenant shall keep the devices in working condition by keeping charged batteries in battery-operated devices, if possible, by testing the devices periodically, if possible, and by refraining from permanently disabling the devices. (c) If a landlord did not know and had not been notified of the need to repair or replace a smoke detection device or a carbon monoxide detection device, the landlord's failure to repair or replace the device may not be considered as evidence of negligence in a subsequent civil action arising from death, property loss, or personal injury. (d) In this section, (1) “dwelling unit” has the meaning given in AS 34.03.360; (2) “landlord” has the meaning given in AS 34.03.360; (3) “qualifying dwelling unit” means a dwelling unit that (A) contains or is serviced by a carbon-based-fueled appliance or device that produces by-products of combustion; (B) has an attached garage or carport; or (C) is adjacent to a parking space; (4) “rental agreement” has the meaning given in AS 34.03.360; (5) “tenant” has the meaning given in AS 34.03.360.
Alaska Statute AS 18.70.095 requires that smoke detection devices be installed and maintained in all dwelling units statewide, and that carbon monoxide detection devices be installed and maintained in dwelling units that contain fuel-burning appliances, attached garages or carports, or adjacent parking spaces. In rental situations, the landlord must supply working devices at the start of each occupancy and must repair or replace them after being notified of any deficiency by the tenant. Tenants, in turn, are responsible for keeping devices operational by maintaining batteries, testing them periodically, and not permanently disabling them.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under AS 18.70.095, compliant landlords generally ensure that every rental unit is equipped with a working smoke detector at the start of each tenancy, and that qualifying units — those with fuel-burning appliances, attached garages or carports, or adjacent parking spaces — also receive a working carbon monoxide detector with an alarm. Operators typically document the condition of these devices at move-in and keep records of any tenant notifications about deficiencies, responding promptly with repairs or replacements. Notably, AS 18.70.095(c) provides that a landlord who had no knowledge of a device deficiency and was not notified of it may not be treated as negligent in a subsequent civil action related to death, injury, or property loss.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
AS 18.70.095 gives tenants in rental units the right to receive working smoke detectors — and, in qualifying units, working carbon monoxide detectors — at the start of each occupancy. If a device is found to be defective or missing, notifying the landlord in writing creates a documented record and triggers the landlord's legal obligation to repair or replace the device. Tenants who believe their landlord has failed to comply with AS 18.70.095 may consider contacting the Alaska State Fire Marshal's office, a local housing authority, or a tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation