Hamden, CT Building Safety: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (2026)

Hamden pairs its carbon monoxide detector rule with the smoke alarm requirement in the same section of the Housing Code. Section 152.69(B) requires a carbon monoxide detector outside of each sleeping area, positioned in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom, in every dwelling unit in town. Like the smoke alarm rule in § 152.69(A), this detector requirement is not a stand-alone suggestion: § 152.65 makes compliance with §§ 152.65 through 152.69 a condition of occupying or letting any dwelling unit, so a missing carbon monoxide detector is treated the same as a missing smoke alarm for occupancy purposes.

The ordinance carves out one exception: § 152.69(B)(2) excuses a dwelling unit from the detector requirement entirely when the unit contains no fuel-burning appliance, no fireplace and no attached garage, on the reasoning that a unit without any of those carbon monoxide sources presents nothing for the detector to guard against. The Director of Health enforces the requirement as part of the Housing Code, with authority to inspect dwellings and premises under § 152.05 and issue a written notice of violation under § 152.10 when an occupied unit that has a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage lacks the required detector. A violation that is not corrected after notice draws the § 152.199 penalty.