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Baltimore County, MD, Cuts CO Detector Deadline to August 2010

Owners of rental properties in Baltimore County, MD, will have four months less than they might have thought to comply with a newly passed law requiring carbon monoxide detectors. 

The new deadline for installation is August 2010.

The seven-member Baltimore County council unanimously passed an amended version of the carbon monoxide bill in a voting session in Towson.

Council Chairman Joseph Bartenfelder said before the meeting that he planned on sponsoring an amendment to shorten the grace period for installation from 12 months to eight months. The law is expected to take effect in February, making the new deadline October

“This is a public safety issue,” said Bartenfelder.

The law requires owners of rental units with gas appliances or an attached garage to install at least one carbon monoxide detector in common areas outside bedrooms.

Prince George’s County and Ocean City have similar laws on the books. State law already requires the monitors for rental units built after Jan. 1, 2008. 

Officials said Baltimore County firefighters responded to more than 1,300 incidents carbon monoxide poisoning last year. The department projects it will be called to about 1,400 incidents this year.

“I want to hold the industry’s feet to the fire to come into compliance,” Bartenfelder said Monday. “I’m getting tired of watching the news and seeing people get carted off on stretchers.”

Before Monday’s meeting, Kathy Howard, a lobbyist representing the Baltimore-based Maryland Multi-Housing Association, questioned the need for Bartenfelder’s change to accelerate the timetable.

“It’s going to make it difficult for complexes to meet the deadline,” she said.

Howard and the association worked with County Executive Jim Smith to craft a bill that wouldn’t require rental properties in the county to install the detectors until next December, after a new executive and council are sworn in. But Bartenfelder said that’s one reason he wanted it done sooner.

“This is a public safety issue that has to be dealt with,” Bartenfelder said. “If there’s an issue, this council will still be there to deal with it rather than a new council and a new executive.”

The bill includes the 15,000 properties in the county rental registration program, as well as all apartment complexes. Rental property owners would have to have the units installed by October. 

Councilman Kevin Kamenetz recommended that Bartenfelder add provisions allowing owners to seek a 60-day extension. That provision was also added.

The county Department of Permits and Development Management, which is responsible for ensuring compliance, will be required to draw up regulations establishing criteria for getting an extension.

The detector can be combined with a smoke detector — but must be either wired into the electrical system or plugged into an outlet that is not controlled by a wall switch. The units must also have a battery backup.

The property owner would have to provide certification of installation to the county and product information to at least one adult per rental unit. Residents would be responsible to replace batteries and would not be allowed to disable the detectors.

The county would enforce the law through its rental registration program, as well as by making spot checks of rental properties. Violations would be subject to a fine of $200 per day.