San Marcos, TX Building Safety: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Permitted short-term rentals
- Citation
- Sec. 34.809(d)(3)
- Enforced via
- Annual STR permit/inspection
- Penalty
- Permit denial, suspension, or revocation
Summary
San Marcos requires smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in every permitted short-term rental as a condition of the life-safety standards in its rental ordinance.
(3)Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed and conform to all applicable city-adopted codes, regulations, and ordinances.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 41).
Full Breakdown
Under the city's short-term rental standards, permitted units must meet life-safety requirements including a mounted fire extinguisher, posted evacuation plan, compliant emergency escape openings, and working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Sec. 34.809(d)(3) ties the detector mandate to whatever detector rules are in the city's adopted building, residential, and fire codes, so it functions as a standing local checklist item enforced through the annual STR permit and inspection process rather than a freestanding citywide dwelling mandate.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental without required smoke/CO detectors is grounds for permit denial, suspension, or revocation under Secs. 34.807 and 34.816-34.817; non-compliant sleeping areas must be locked and excluded from occupancy counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply to all San Marcos homes?
What happens if an STR lacks a CO detector?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Marcos
Texas rules heatmap·Compare San Marcos to another location·View the Texas building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.