New Federal Rule Mandates Smoke and CO Detectors in Short-Term Rentals, Backed by FTC Enforcement

If you use apps or websites to book a short-term rental—think Airbnb or Vrbo—this new piece of legislation is about making sure your temporary digs don’t pose unnecessary risks. This bill requires that any property rented out for less than 30 consecutive days must be equipped with working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. This safety mandate applies specifically to rentals involved in interstate commerce, meaning those advertised or sold across state lines.

The Fine Print on Safety Gear

Essentially, this bill sets a federal baseline for safety in the booming short-term rental market. The rule is clear: no working smoke and CO detectors, no renting out the place. The goal here is simple: protect travelers from the silent, odorless threat of carbon monoxide poisoning and the quick danger of fire, which are both serious risks in properties that aren't regularly inspected or maintained to hotel standards. The bill also clarifies that this rule doesn't apply to places just offering meeting rooms or catering—it’s strictly about where people sleep.

Who’s Checking the Smoke Detectors?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the designated safety cop here. The bill gives the FTC the power to write the specific regulations needed to implement this rule. Crucially, if a property owner or platform violates this safety requirement, the FTC will treat it just like any other unfair or deceptive business practice under the FTC Act. This means the FTC can use its full range of enforcement powers, including fines and legal action, to ensure compliance. For the average traveler, this is a big deal because it means there’s a federal agency with teeth actively enforcing basic safety standards.

What This Means for Owners and Renters

For short-term rental owners, especially those who list properties on national platforms (which almost always counts as interstate commerce), this means a mandatory, non-negotiable cost of doing business: installing and maintaining these detectors. While this is a minor compliance cost, it’s a necessary one that standardizes safety across the industry. For renters, this provides peace of mind. Knowing that a federal standard exists, backed by FTC enforcement, means you can expect a minimum level of life-saving equipment, whether you’re renting a cabin in the mountains or a condo in the city.

The Rollout

This isn't an instant change. The bill includes a one-year grace period from the date it becomes law before the safety requirements kick in. This gives the FTC time to write the final rules and, just as important, it gives property owners a full year to get the required detectors installed and checked off their list. While the bill is generally straightforward, the one area that might cause some confusion is the limitation to “interstate commerce.” While most rentals listed online likely qualify, it does create a potential loophole for purely local, intrastate rentals, meaning safety standards might still vary depending on how and where you book.