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Residential Health & Safety Codes

Health and sanitation codes address dangers like carbon monoxide, smoke, pests and moisture. These are enforced by a public health department. One common safety code aims to provide security from crime, drugs and gangs. There is no national code, and, surprisingly, only 12 states have implemented some form of health or housing code.

  1. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Codes

    • As of January, 2010, 24 states require either a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm, but only Alaska and North Carolina require both. The codes vary widely; on the strict side, Oregon requires that tenants test their smoke alarms every six months. Minnesota residents must have a carbon monoxide alarm within 10 feet of every sleeping room. On the lax side, Virginia tenants are not required to have any detector, but must not tamper with or remove a functioning detector.

    Pest Control and Extermination Codes

    • Colorado, Florida, New Hampshire and Washington are the only states that specifically refer to pests, but other states allude to the issue by requiring that the property be habitable and clean. All four of these states' codes go above and beyond typical state codes because they specifically state that landlords are responsible for exterminating pests.

    Home Safety and Security from Crime, Drugs and Gangs

    • Alaska, Connecticut, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Washington codes demand that residents may not engage in illegal activity on the premises. Montana lists specific illegal activities, such as drug manufacturing, and requires that the landlord may not knowingly allow the tenant to participate in the illegal activities.

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