Alachua County, FL Building Safety: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- Install and maintain CO alarm 'if applicable'
- Governing section
- § 332.01(b)(4)
- Conflict rule
- Florida Fire Prevention Code prevails over IPMC
- Applies to
- Dwelling units, unincorporated county
- Max penalty
- $500 fine and/or 60 days jail
Summary
Alachua County requires carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling units where applicable, under County Code § 332.01(b)(4), part of its locally amended Housing and Maintenance Code. Failing to install and maintain a required CO alarm is a code violation, enforced alongside the county's separate smoke-alarm mandate in the same subsection.
(4)The Florida Fire Prevention Code, as amended, provided for F.S. § 633.202,, has been adopted by the County in Chapter 362, Alachua County Code. Chapter 7 of the IPMC Fire Safety Requirements is excluded and is not adopted by the County. Any reference to an International Fire Code is substituted for the Florida Fire Prevention Code. It shall be a violation for failure to (a) install and maintain smoke alarms on the ceiling or walls outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms, in each room use for sleeping purposes, and in each story within a dwelling unit, and (b) if applicable, install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a dwelling unit. In the event a provision of the IPMC conflicts with the Florida Fire Prevention Code, the Florida Fire Prevention Code will prevail and apply.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
' The 'if applicable' qualifier ties the duty to when a carbon monoxide alarm is otherwise required for the dwelling, consistent with the triggers the Florida Fire Prevention Code and Florida Building Code use elsewhere, such as attached garages or fuel-burning appliances. Where a provision of the IPMC as locally adopted conflicts with the Florida Fire Prevention Code, the subsection specifies that the Florida Fire Prevention Code prevails. The county's housing and maintenance code (Chapter 332, Article I) applies to structures and premises generally in unincorporated Alachua County, so the duty to install and maintain a working CO alarm runs with the dwelling regardless of whether it is owner-occupied or rented. 01(b)(6) substitution, check for CO alarms as part of routine housing-code inspections and complaint-driven inspections alike.
Violations & Fines
Failure to install and maintain a required carbon monoxide alarm is expressly declared a violation under Section 332.01(b)(4), enforceable under Section 332.02 and Chapters 10 and 24 of the county code. General penalties under Section 10.08 reach up to a $500.00 fine and/or 60 days in the county jail per violation, with additional code-enforcement board remedies available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every home in Alachua County need a carbon monoxide alarm?
What law controls if the IPMC and Florida Fire Prevention Code disagree on alarms?
What happens if my CO alarm is missing or dead?
Who checks for CO alarm compliance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.