Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—280 § 481—280.17
Requirements for carbon monoxide alarms and detection systems.
Operative Text
Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—280 § 481—280.17
280.17(1) Standards for carbon monoxide alarms and carbon monoxide detection systems. All carbon monoxide alarms installed prior to July 1, 2025, shall meet the requirements of the NFPA Standard 720, 2012 edition, and be UL listed in accordance with UL 2034 edition 5 as revised August 7, 2024. All carbon monoxide alarms installed after July 1, 2025, shall meet the requirements of the NFPA Standard 72, 2022 edition. All carbon monoxide detection systems installed prior to July 1, 2025, shall meet the requirements for the NFPA Standard 720, 2012 edition; display a label or other identification issued by an approved testing agency; and be UL listed in accordance with UL 2075 edition 2 as revised August 4, 2023. All carbon monoxide detection systems installed after July 1, 2025, shall meet the requirements of the NFPA Standard 72, 2022 edition. All carbon monoxide alarms, combination carbon monoxide alarm/ smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide detection systems installed under these rules must be listed with the UL. 280.17(2) Carbon monoxide alarms required. Carbon monoxide alarms are required in the following buildings if the building is served by a fuel-burning heater, fuel-burning furnace, fuel-burning appliance, or fuel-burning fireplace or has an attached garage. a. Multiple-unit residential buildings and single-family residences for which construction began on or after July 1, 2018. b. Existing single-family rental units, single-family residences, and multiple-unit residential buildings. 280.17(3) Location. A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in the following building locations: a. In the immediate vicinity of every room used for sleeping purposes in each dwelling unit. b. In each bedroom where a fuel-burning heater or furnace, fuel-burning appliance, or fireplace is located within the bedroom or its attached bathroom. c. In each sleeping unit, if the sleeping unit or its attached bathroom contains a fuel-burning appliance, fuel-burning heater or furnace, or fireplace. d. In the immediate vicinity of each sleeping unit where the sleeping unit or its attached bathroom does not contain a fuel-burning appliance, fuel-burning heater, or fireplace and is not served by a forced-air furnace. 280.17(4) Location exceptions. A carbon monoxide alarm is not required in the locations specified by subrule 280.17(3) when: a. There are no communicating openings between the fuel-burning heater or furnace, fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, or attached garage and a dwelling unit or sleeping unit. b. There are no communicating openings between the fuel-burning heater or furnace, fuel-burning appliance or fireplace and a dwelling unit or sleeping unit and when a dwelling unit or sleeping unit is located more than one story above or below an attached garage. c. There are no communicating openings between the fuel-burning heater or furnace, fuel-burning appliance, or fireplace and a sleeping unit or dwelling unit and the attached garage connects to the building through an open-ended corridor. d. A carbon monoxide alarm is located on the ceiling of the room containing the fuel-burning heater, fuel-burning appliance or fireplace, or in the first room or area between the fuel-burning heater, fuel-burning appliance or fireplace and the dwelling unit or sleeping unit. 280.17(5) Forced-air furnace--exception. A carbon monoxide alarm is not required in a dwelling unit or sleeping unit that is served by a fuel-burning forced-air furnace when a carbon monoxide alarm is located on the ceiling of the room containing the forced-air furnace or in the first room or area served by each main duct leaving the forced-air furnace and the carbon monoxide alarm signals are automatically transmitted to the occupants of each dwelling unit or sleeping unit served by the forced-air furnace. 280.17(6) Carbon monoxide detection systems. Commercially installed carbon monoxide detection systems that have the capability of notifying all occupants of dwelling units or sleeping units within a building are an acceptable alternative to the installation of carbon monoxide alarms and are deemed compliant with this chapter. 280.17(7) Combination alarms. The carbon monoxide alarm may be combined with smoke detecting devices provided that the combined unit complies with pertinent provisions of this chapter regarding smoke detectors in addition to carbon monoxide alarm standards. A combined carbon monoxide alarm/ smoke alarm shall emit different alarm signals for carbon monoxide and for smoke. Combination carbon monoxide alarm/smoke alarms are an acceptable alternative to carbon monoxide alarms. 280.17(8) New construction--power source. In buildings for which construction is begun on or after July 1, 2018, carbon monoxide alarms will receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source. Wiring will be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than that required for overcurrent protection and will be equipped with a battery backup. 280.17(9) Existing buildings--power source. New and replacement carbon monoxide alarms installed in existing buildings may be solely battery operated or may plug into an electrical socket and have a battery backup. 280.17(10) Responsibility for installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms. It is the responsibility of the owner, owner’s agent, or manager of a multiple-unit residential building, single-family residence, or single-family rental unit to install carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with this chapter. However, if a dwelling unit in a multiple-unit residential building qualifies for a homestead credit pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 425, only the owner-occupant of the dwelling unit has the responsibility to install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with this chapter. 280.17(11) Maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms. a. It is the responsibility of the owner of a multiple-unit residential building, single-family rental unit, or dwelling unit to supply and install all required carbon monoxide alarms and to ensure that the batteries are in operating condition at the time the lessee, tenant, guest, or roomer takes possession of the dwelling unit or sleeping unit. The owner is responsible for providing written information regarding carbon monoxide alarm testing and maintenance to one lessee, tenant, guest, or roomer per dwelling unit or sleeping unit. b. An owner or manager may require a lessee, tenant, guest, or roomer who has a residency longer than 30 days to be responsible for general maintenance, including but not limited to replacement of any required batteries of the carbon monoxide alarms and testing the carbon monoxide alarms in the lessee’s, tenant’s, guest’s, or roomer’s dwelling unit or sleeping unit. The lessee, tenant, guest, or roomer is responsible for notifying the owner or manager in writing of any deficiencies that the lessee, tenant, guest, or roomer cannot correct and providing the owner or manager access to the dwelling unit or sleeping unit so that deficiencies can be corrected. 280.17(12) Deaf or hard-of-hearing tenant. Upon request of a tenant who is deaf or hard of hearing, an owner of a multiple-unit residential building or a single-family rental unit that has a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage, or the owner’s agent, shall install light-emitting carbon monoxide alarms. 280.17(13) Certification of installation required. A person who files for a homestead credit pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 425 will certify that the dwelling unit that has a fuel-fired heater or furnace, a fuel-fired appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage has carbon monoxide alarms installed in compliance with this chapter or that such alarms will be installed within 30 days of the date the filing for the credit is made. 280.17(14) Inspections authorized. Inspections may be conducted by the director; the director’s subordinates; chiefs of local fire departments; state or local building inspectors; or other fire, building, or safety officials authorized by the director. Any inspections authorized under this rule are limited to the placement, repair, and operability of carbon monoxide alarms and carbon monoxide detection systems. 280.17(15) Inoperable carbon monoxide alarms and corrective action. Upon receiving written notification by a lessee, tenant, guest, or roomer or by the director; director’s subordinates; state fire marshal; fire marshal’s subordinates; a chief of a local fire department; a building inspector; or other fire, building or safety official that a carbon monoxide alarm is inoperable, the owner or manager of the multiple-unit residential building or single-family rental unit shall repair or replace the carbon monoxide alarm within 30 days. If the owner or manager fails to correct the situation within the 30 days after receipt of written notice, the tenant, guest, or roomer may cause the carbon monoxide alarm to be repaired or may purchase and install a carbon monoxide alarm required under this chapter and may deduct the repair cost or purchase price from the next rental payment or payments made by the tenant, guest, or roomer in accordance with Iowa Code section 10A.518(7). 135B, 135C, 135J, 231C, and 237. [Editorial change: IAC Supplement 11/26/25] [Editorial change: IAC Supplement 8/5/26]
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English
Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—280 § 481—280.17 establishes detailed requirements for carbon monoxide alarms and detection systems in residential buildings. Buildings served by fuel-burning equipment or with attached garages must have compliant alarms installed in or near sleeping areas, with specific placement rules and recognized exceptions. The rule sets equipment standards tied to installation date, addresses power sources, allows combination smoke/CO alarms and whole-building detection systems as alternatives, and outlines inspection authority.
Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 18, 2026
Plain English — not legal advice.
For Property Managers
Under § 481—280.17, owners and managers of rental properties bear primary responsibility for installing code-compliant carbon monoxide alarms before a new tenant takes possession, ensuring batteries are operational, and providing written maintenance instructions. Compliant operators verify that equipment meets the applicable NFPA and UL standards based on installation date and that alarms are placed in all required locations near sleeping areas. When written notice of an inoperable alarm is received, the rule requires repair or replacement within 30 days to avoid tenants exercising the statutory self-help remedy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For Tenants
Section 481—280.17 gives tenants the right to receive working, properly placed carbon monoxide alarms and written maintenance information at move-in, and tenants who are deaf or hard of hearing may request light-emitting alarms. If an alarm becomes inoperable, tenants can provide written notice to the owner or manager, triggering a 30-day repair window under this rule. Should the owner fail to act within that period, the provision references a self-help remedy allowing repair or replacement costs to be deducted from rent; tenant-rights organizations or Iowa legal aid can help clarify how that process generally works.
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 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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Oct 18, 2026
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Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
Iowa Code ch. 425
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Related Rules
§ 26C
Certain public accommodations; automatic smoke or heat detectors
§ 26D
Definitions applicable to Secs. 26D to 26F
§ 26E
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