Not legal advice. This is a free reference compiled from official government sources. Laws change and local details matter. Confirm every deadline with the official source or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
Last verified: · Confidence: high
What smoke and carbon monoxide alarm rules apply to landlords in Maryland?
Short answer
One- and two-family rentals: upgrade to sealed 10-year long-life smoke alarms at a change of tenant if not already installed in the prior 10 years
When: At each change of tenant, if the unit has not had sealed long-life battery smoke alarms installed in the preceding 10 years
In one- and two-family dwellings, smoke alarms must be upgraded to current placement and type when there is a change of tenant and the unit has not been equipped with sealed long-life battery smoke alarms with a hush feature within the previous 10 years; also when alarms are over 10 years old or fail to work.
"there is a change of tenant in a residential unit and the residential unit has not previously been equipped in accordance with this subtitle with sealed long–life battery smoke alarms with silence/hush button features within the 10 years preceding the change of tenant; or" mgaleg.maryland.gov
"the existing smoke alarms exceed 10 years from the date of manufacture;" mgaleg.maryland.gov
One- and two-family rentals: upgrade to sealed 10-year long-life smoke alarms at a change of tenant if not already installed in the prior 10 years Verified
Deadline: At each change of tenant, if the unit has not had sealed long-life battery smoke alarms installed in the preceding 10 years
In one- and two-family dwellings, smoke alarms must be upgraded to current placement and type when there is a change of tenant and the unit has not been equipped with sealed long-life battery smoke alarms with a hush feature within the previous 10 years; also when alarms are over 10 years old or fail to work.
Who it covers: One- and two-family dwellings (Public Safety 9-104(d)).
"there is a change of tenant in a residential unit and the residential unit has not previously been equipped in accordance with this subtitle with sealed long–life battery smoke alarms with silence/hush button features within the 10 years preceding the change of tenant; or" mgaleg.maryland.gov
"the existing smoke alarms exceed 10 years from the date of manufacture;" mgaleg.maryland.gov
Notes: Md. Code, Public Safety 9-104(d).
Last verified 2026-10-24 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction