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Winston-Salem, NC Building Safety: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Compliance deadline: December 1, 2018
Coverage: One alarm per level
Trigger condition: Fossil-fuel appliance or garage
Listing standard: ANSI/UL2034 or ANSI/UL2075
Enforced by: Housing conservation administrator

Summary

Existing occupied dwelling units with a fossil-fuel heater, appliance, fireplace, or attached garage must have at least one operable, UL-listed carbon monoxide alarm per level under the city's minimum housing code.

By December 1, 2018, each existing occupied dwelling unit shall have at least one operable carbon monoxide alarm per level, either battery-operated or electrical, that is listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory that is OSHA-approved to test and certify to American National Standards Institute/Underwriters Laboratories Standards ANSI/UL2034 or ANSI/UL2075, installed and maintained in accordance with either the standards of the National Fire Protection Association or the minimum protection designated in the manufacturer's instructions.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).

Full Breakdown

Every existing occupied dwelling unit in Winston-Salem was required to have at least one operable carbon monoxide alarm per level by December 1, 2018: battery-operated or electrical, listed to ANSI/UL2034 or ANSI/UL2075, and installed and maintained per National Fire Protection Association standards or the manufacturer's instructions. The mandate applies only to units with a fossil-fuel-burning heater, appliance, or fireplace, or with an attached garage, and only to existing dwellings not already covered by the Residential Code section of the North Carolina State Building Code. Landlords aren't required to supply the battery or electricity, but the alarm must work when either is present. A missing or dead alarm counts as a substandard condition under Code § 10-193(12) that can trigger a repair order from the housing conservation administrator.

Violations & Fines

A missing or inoperable alarm makes the unit substandard under § 10-193(12); the housing conservation administrator can issue a repair order under §§ 10-196 and 10-203, and noncompliance with such an order carries a civil penalty of $350 for the first day and $100 for each day after under § 10-210.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the landlord have to supply the battery?

No. Section 10-197(m)(2) defines "operable" as working when a battery is inserted or electricity is on, but doesn't require the landlord to provide the battery or electricity itself.

Which units need a carbon monoxide alarm?

Only existing dwelling units with a fossil-fuel-burning heater, appliance, or fireplace, or an attached garage, that aren't already covered by the state Residential Code, per § 10-197(m)(1).

Sources & Official References

[1]Winston-Salem Code of Ordinances § 10-197(m)

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