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Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
If you have received this link as part of your permit issuance, your building project must meet the following Smoke and Carbon Alarm requirements. Please call if you have questions: 651-638-2050.
Updated to the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code.
View the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Code Information (PDF).
Smoke Alarms
R314.3 Location. Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
- In each sleeping room
- Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms
- On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements and habitable attics and not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics
- Smoke alarms shall be installed not less than 3 feet horizontally from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains a bathtub or shower unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm required by this section.
- Smoke alarms shall not be installed near cooking appliance locations unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm in a location required as noted above
Section R314.3.1 R314.2.2 Alterations, repairs and additions
An individual dwelling unit shall be equipped with smoke alarms located as required for new dwellings when:
- Alterations, repairs (including installation o replacement of windows or doors), or additions requiring a building permit occur or
- One or more sleeping rooms are added or created in an existing dwelling
- Interior remodel including basement or bathroom finish
Exceptions:
- Work involving the exterior surfaces of dwellings, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, or the addition of a an open porch or deck, or chimney repairs
- Installation, alteration, or repairs of plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems
Interconnection of smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required where alterations or repairs do not result in removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure.
- January 1, 2007 - newly constructed single-family and multifamily dwellings
- August 1, 2008 - existing single family homes
- August 1, 2009 - existing multifamily and apartment dwelling units
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms
R315.3 Location. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
- In dwelling units; shall be installed outside of and not more than 10 feet from each separate sleeping area or bedroom
- Each level containing sleeping areas or bedrooms
- Where a fuel-burning appliance is located within a bedroom or its attached bathroom, CO alarm shall be installed within the bedroom
R315.2.2 Alterations, repairs, and additions
An individual dwelling unit shall be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms located as required for new dwellings where:
- Alterations, repairs (including installation or replacement of windows or doors), or additions requiring a building permit occur or
- One or more sleeping rooms are added or created in existing dwellings
Exceptions:
- Work involving the exterior surfaces of dwellings, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, the addition of an open porch or deck, or chimney repairs
- Installation, alteration, or repairs of plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems
Interconnection of carbon monoxide alarms in existing areas shall not be required where alterations or repairs do not result in removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure.
- January 1, 2007 - newly constructed single-family and multifamily dwellings
- August 1, 2008 - existing single-family homes
- August 1, 2009 - existing multifamily and apartment dwelling units