Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 541a - Public Safety: General Provisions
Section 29-453. - Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors required in certain residential buildings.

(a) Prior to transferring title to any real property containing a residential building designed to be occupied by one or two families, the transferor of such real property shall present to the transferee an affidavit certifying (1) that such residential building is equipped with smoke detection and warning equipment complying with this section, the Fire Safety Code, the State Fire Prevention Code and the State Building Code, and (2) that such residential building is equipped with carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment complying with this section or does not pose a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning because such residential building does not contain a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage. Nothing in the affidavit shall constitute a warranty beyond the transfer of title.

(b) Any transferor who fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall credit the transferee with the sum of two hundred fifty dollars at closing.
(c) Any smoke detection and warning equipment required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be:
(1) Capable of sensing visible or invisible smoke particles;
(2) Installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and in the immediate vicinity of each bedroom;
(3) Capable of providing an alarm suitable to warn occupants when such equipment is activated;
(4) Powered by the household electrical service, except such equipment may be battery powered in a residential building for which a building permit for new occupancy was issued prior to October 1, 1976;
(5) In a residential building for which a building permit for new occupancy was issued on or after October 16, 1989, interconnected in such a manner that the activation of the alarm on any smoke detection and warning equipment in the residential building causes the alarm on all smoke detection and warning equipment in such building to activate; and
(6) In a residential building for which a building permit for new occupancy was issued on or after May 1, 1999, located in all sleeping areas.
(d) Any carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be (1) capable of sensing carbon monoxide present in parts per million, (2) installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and (3) capable of providing an alarm suitable to warn occupants when such equipment is activated. Such equipment may be operated using batteries.
(e) The following shall be exempt from the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section: (1) Any transfer from one or more coowners solely to one or more of the other coowners; (2) transfers made to the spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, child, grandparent or grandchild of the transferor where no consideration is paid; (3) transfers pursuant to an order of the court; (4) transfers by the federal government or any political subdivision thereof; (5) transfers by deed in lieu of foreclosure; (6) any transfer of title incident to the refinancing of an existing debt secured by a mortgage; (7) transfers by mortgage deed or other instrument to secure a debt where the transferor's title to the real property being transferred is subject to a preexisting debt secured by a mortgage; and (8) transfers made by executors, administrators, trustees or conservators.
(P.A. 13-272, S. 1; P.A. 14-219, S. 1; P.A. 22-75, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 13-272 effective January 1, 2014; P.A. 14-219 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re nothing in affidavit to constitute a warranty beyond the transfer of title, amended Subsec. (c) by deleting former Subdiv. (3) re standards under which smoke detection and warning equipment was tested and approved and redesignating existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (3), and amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “showing the amount of” with “sensing” and deleting “as a reading” in Subdiv. (1), deleting former Subdiv. (3) re standards under which carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment was tested and approved and redesignating existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (3), effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 22-75 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re date building permit for new occupancy was issued and inserting “the Fire Safety Code, the State Fire Prevention Code and the State Building Code”, amended Subsec. (c) by deleting “Such equipment may be operated using batteries.” in Subdiv. (3), adding Subdivs. (4) to (6) re power and interconnection of equipment and location in sleeping areas and making technical changes and amended Subsec. (d) to make technical changes.

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