Hilton Head Island Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements
Stay compliant with Hilton Head Island smoke and CO detector requirements for short-term rentals. Learn placement rules and how Custom Security can help you meet new requirements.
If you own a short-term rental on Hilton Head Island, meeting smoke and carbon monoxide detector requirements is essential for guest safety and compliance. This article explains alarm placement, interconnection standards, and when a monitored fire alarm system is required—plus how Custom Security, a local family-owned provider, can help protect your home or business with 24/7 professional monitoring.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector Requirements
Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and dangerous, and the only reliable way to know it’s present is with a CO alarm. For that reason, CO alarms are recommended (and in many situations effectively required) in homes that have fuel-burning appliances, an attached garage, or a fireplace.
When it comes to placement, the goal is to ensure the alarm can warn people quickly—especially while they’re sleeping. In general, you should have at least one CO alarm on each level of the home, with units placed in the hallway near each bedroom or sleeping area. It’s also important to keep alarms at least five feet away from a carbon monoxide source so they can read accurately and avoid nuisance activations.
This matters because even well-maintained equipment can fail, and attached garages can introduce CO into living spaces faster than many people realize—particularly overnight when everyone is asleep.
Smoke Detector Requirements
For homes under 3,600 square feet, the Town’s requirements focus on local smoke alarms with full coverage and proper interconnection. Smoke alarms should be installed inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. They also must be interconnected so if one alarm activates, they all sound. That interconnection can be wired or wireless, but the result should be whole-home notification.
If your home is 3,600 square feet or larger, the requirement shifts from standalone devices to a monitored fire alarm system. That means automatic smoke detection in sleeping areas, in every room along the path of egress, and on each story of the home. The system must include audible notification that can be heard throughout the home, it must be monitored by an approved company, and it must meet the intent of NFPA 72.
At Custom Security, we both install and service commercial fire alarm systems and have a deep understanding of designing and installing fire alarm systems and detectors in both homes and large commercial businesses, and are trained on the requirements of NFPA 72.
We're here to help you!
Custom Security makes it simple to meet these standards without guesswork. As a local, family-owned company serving Hilton Head and the Lowcountry, Custom Security can evaluate your property, recommend the correct device types and locations, install everything properly, and ensure your system aligns with the Town’s requirements. They can also provide 24/7 professional monitoring for smoke and carbon monoxide detection, plus full security and fire protection solutions for both homes and businesses. That means when an alarm triggers, you have a professional response in motion even if you are not on-site.