Rockville, MD Building Safety: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Required in
- All dwellings, citywide
- Standard
- NFPA 72 (or IRC R315)
- Maintenance duty
- Replace when inoperable
- Governing code
- IPMC §§ 705.1-705.2, amended
Summary
Rockville requires carbon monoxide alarms in all dwellings under NFPA 72, or under IRC Section R315 for homes covered by the residential code, and inoperable units must be replaced.
705.1 General. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed in dwellings in accordance with NFPA 72, except that alarms in dwellings covered by the International Residential Code shall be installed in accordance with Section R315 of that code. 705.2 Carbon monoxide alarms and detectors. Carbon monoxide alarms and carbon monoxide detection systems shall be maintained in accordance with NFPA 72. Carbon monoxide alarms and carbon monoxide detectors that become inoperable or begin producing end-of-life signals shall be replaced.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Rockville's Property Maintenance Code amends IPMC Section 705.1 to require carbon monoxide alarms in every dwelling, installed to NFPA 72 standards -- except dwellings covered by Rockville's adopted International Residential Code, which instead follow IRC Section R315. A companion amendment, Section 705.2, requires alarms and detection systems to be maintained per NFPA 72 and replaced once they go inoperable or start signaling end-of-life. The requirement applies citywide to existing dwellings and is enforced alongside the rest of the Property Maintenance Code.
Violations & Fines
A dwelling without a working carbon monoxide alarm, or with one left inoperable past its end-of-life signal, is a Property Maintenance Code violation and municipal infraction under Rockville City Code § 5-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rockville require carbon monoxide alarms in every home?
What if my CO alarm stops working?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockville
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