Waukegan, IL Building Safety: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (2026)
Key Facts
- Base code
- 2021 International Residential Code (Sec. 6-401)
- Amended section
- R315.1, Carbon Monoxide Detection, Group R
- Approval standard
- Illinois State Fire Marshal rules + UL/CSA listing
- Coverage
- Single-family, multi-family, and mixed-use dwelling units
Summary
Waukegan adopts the 2021 International Residential Code and rewrites its carbon monoxide alarm section, R315.1, to require alarms that meet Illinois State Fire Marshal rules and carry a nationally recognized testing laboratory label in every dwelling unit.
R315 Carbon Monoxide Alarms. Delete text in its entirety. Replace with: R315.1 Carbon Monoxide Detection, Group R. "Approved carbon monoxide alarm" or "alarm" means a carbon monoxide alarm that complies with all the requirements of the rules and regulations of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, bears the label of a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and complies with the most recent standards of the Underwriters Laboratories or the Canadian Standard Association. "Dwelling unit" means a room or suite of rooms used for human habitation, and includes single family residences as well as each living unit of a multiple family residence and each living unit in a mixed-use building.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 6-401 adopts the International Residential Code, 2021 Edition, as the One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code of the City of Waukegan, with amendments listed in Sec. 6-402. ' It further defines 'dwelling unit' to include 'a room or suite of rooms used for human habitation,' expressly covering single-family residences, each living unit of a multi-family residence, and each living unit in a mixed-use building. Because Sec. 6-401 adopts the IRC's full penalty, permitting, and inspection framework along with this substituted section, enforcement of the carbon monoxide alarm standard runs through the same building permit and inspection process as the rest of the one- and two-family dwelling code, including the R105 permit provisions and R112 appeal procedure that the same 2022 amendment ordinance also rewrote.
Violations & Fines
Failure to install a compliant carbon monoxide alarm, or installing a non-approved device, is enforced as a violation of the adopted IRC under Sec. 6-401; where no specific IRC penalty applies, the general Sec. 1-13 fine of $25.00 to $750.00 per day, with each day a separate offense, governs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What carbon monoxide alarm standard does Waukegan require?
Which buildings does Waukegan's CO alarm rule cover?
Is Waukegan's CO alarm rule part of the state building code or a local rewrite?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
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