Rockford, IL Building Safety: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- CO detector density
- 1 per 100 sq ft
- Max ambient CO level
- 10 ppm
- Applies to
- licensed hookah lounges only
- Fine range
- $50–$750 per day
Summary
Rockford's code doesn't set a citywide carbon monoxide detector mandate for homes, but it does require hookah lounges to install one CO detector for every 100 square feet of space that burns fossil fuel.
(5)A hookah lounge must have one carbon monoxide detector installed for every 100 square feet in the occupancy or structure which utilizes the burning of fossil fuel for heat, cooking, ventilation, production of hot water, etc.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code Sec. 3-119(d)(5), any hookah lounge occupying space that uses fossil-fuel burning for heat, cooking, ventilation, or hot water must install one carbon monoxide detector per 100 square feet. The same section caps ambient CO at 10 parts per million and requires immediate evacuation if patrons show poisoning symptoms like headache, dizziness, or cherry-red lips. The rule sits inside the hookah lounge licensing chapter, not the general building code, so it applies to licensed hookah businesses rather than dwellings.
Violations & Fines
Violating Sec. 3-119 is punishable under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-9: a fine of $50 to $750 per day the violation continues, plus license suspension or revocation by the tobacco commissioner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rockford require CO detectors in houses?
What triggers an evacuation under this rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockford
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