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MINNESOTA STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS — MINNESOTA STATUTE 299F.50

The 2006 legislative session passed a new carbon monoxide (CO) law (MN 299F.50) requiring CO alarms in all single family homes and multifamily apartment units. Effective January 1, 2007 all newly constructed single family homes and multifamily dwelling units for which building permits were issued on or after January 1, 2007 shall be provided with approved carbon monoxide alarms. Effective August 1, 2008, all existing single family homes shall be equipped with approved carbon monoxide alarms. Effective August 1, 2009 all other multifamily or apartment dwelling units shall be provided with approved CO alarms. All carbon monoxide alarms must be certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory that conform to the latest Underwriters Laboratories (U/L) Standards (also known as UL2034 Standards).

General Location Requirements:

Every single family dwelling and every multifamily dwelling unit shall be provided with a minimum of one approved and fully operational carbon monoxide alarm installed within ten (10) feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping purposes. If bedrooms are located on separate floors additional carbon monoxide alarms would be necessary within ten feet of these areas.

Owner Responsibilities in Multifamily Dwellings:

1. provide and install one approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm within ten feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping; and
2. replace any required carbon monoxide alarm that has been stolen, removed, found missing, or rendered inoperable during a prior occupancy of the dwelling unit and which has ot been replaced by the occupant prior to the commencement of a new occupancy of a dwelling unit.

Battery Removal and Tampering Prohibited:

No person shall remove batteries from, or in any way render inoperable, a required carbon monoxide alarm.

Exceptions for Certain Multifamily Dwellings and State-Operated Facilities:

1. Multifamily dwellings may have approved and operational carbon monoxide alarms installed between 15 and 25 feet of carbon monoxide producing central fixtures and equipment provided there is a centralized alarm system or other mechanism for responsible parties to hear the alarm at all times.
2. An owner of a multifamily dwelling that contains minimal or no sources of carbon monoxide may be exempted from the requirements of this Statute provided that such owner certifies to the commissioner of public safety that such multifamily dwelling poses no foreseeable carbon monoxide risk to the health and safety to the dwelling units.
3. The requirements of this section do not apply to facilities owned or operated by the state of Minnesota.