North Carolina requires working smoke alarms in every home. Landlords must provide operable, UL-listed alarms at the start of each tenancy under NCGS 42-42, and any new or replacement alarm must be a tamper-resistant 10-year lithium unit. New construction follows NC Residential Code R314.
Under G.S. 42-42(a)(5) a landlord must provide operable smoke alarms that are UL-listed, install them to NFPA or manufacturer standards, place fresh batteries at the start of tenancy, and repair or replace within 15 days of written notice. Since January 1, 2013, any newly installed or replaced alarm must be a 'tamper-resistant, 10-year lithium battery smoke alarm' unless it is hardwired. The NC Residential Code requires alarms in each bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of new or renovated homes; carbon-monoxide alarms are also required in rentals with fuel appliances or an attached garage under G.S. 42-42(a)(7).
A landlord who fails to install, replace, or repair a required smoke alarm commits an infraction subject to a fine of up to $250 per violation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
durham-county-nc
Backyard composting is legal in Durham and the city offers a curbside food-waste program. Compost piles must be maintained so they do not harbor rodents or p...
durham-county-nc
Durham has no ordinance banning artificial turf in residential yards. It counts toward impervious-surface and lot-coverage limits under the UDO, and cannot b...
durham-county-nc
Durham lies in the Neuse River and Falls Lake watersheds, where state and UDO riparian buffer rules require a 50-foot protected buffer of native vegetation a...
durham-county-nc
Rain barrels and cisterns are legal and encouraged in Durham; no county ordinance bans collecting rooftop rainwater. Durham has historically offered subsidiz...
durham-county-nc
Durham enforces a year-round odd/even irrigation ordinance and can impose tighter water-shortage stages. As of June 2026 Durham is in Stage 2, which bans spr...
durham-county-nc
Durham declares dense weeds, vines, briars and undergrowth a public nuisance when they harbor pests or sit near buildings. Overgrowth over 12 inches high mus...
See how Durham County's smoke detectors rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.