Act 458 and it's New Requirements for Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Louisiana REALTORS® • September 14, 2022

An Update on ACT 458

In the past few weeks, you have probably heard a lot of conflicting things about a new law that will require carbon monoxide detectors to be in every home sold or leased beginning next year.

 

This conflicting information led the Office of the State Fire Marshal to work with Louisiana REALTORS®, the Louisiana Real Estate Commission, the Louisiana State Home Inspectors Board, and others to develop guidance on this subject for you and your clients. 

 

For REALTORS®, the important things to know are:

 1. As of January 1, 2023, and from there on out, every one and two-family dwelling must have at least one operable, life-long, sealed battery carbon monoxide (CO) detector when the dwelling is transferred (sold, donated, etc.) or leased. 

2. This new requirement will apply to any age dwelling and whether or not the dwelling has gas service.

3. The law provides that a real estate agent will not be held liable for a seller’s failure to follow the new law.


For those who would like to read the entirety of this guidance including recommendations about placement of carbon monoxide detectors and a refresher on smoke alarms, please see below. A link to the Fire Marshal’s office is also available for your needs.



Guidance Letter from the LA State Fire Marshall
By Louisiana REALTORS® April 2, 2026
Louisiana REALTORS® is compiling a cookbook of Louisiana flavor with a REALTOR® heart in support of the REALTORS® Relief Foundation . And we have two ways for you to get involved:  Join us in contributing your favorite recipe using this online form. If you want to include a picture with your recipe, send to info@larealtors.org and reference recipe title in email subject. Or share your creativity by designing the cover artwork for the cookbook. A small committee will review all entries and choose one to print on the cover. Stay tuned for more details on when you can grab your own copy of the cookbook! Cover artwork and recipes are due by April 17th.
By Louisiana REALTORS® March 27, 2026
Week three of the Regular Session kept real estate issues in the conversation, even as lawmakers continued to focus heavily on workforce, tax and insurance policy. On the property tax front, measures to reshape assessments and exemptions, including proposals for a new blight rehabilitation exemption and additional relief for seniors, remain parked in the House Ways and Means Committee as stakeholders work through fiscal and local government concerns. These bills matter because they will influence long-term carrying costs, redevelopment incentives and how tax burdens are shared across residential and commercial property. Homestead related legislation, including parish level authority to increase the exemption amount, is also in the queue, signaling that the broader structure of Louisiana’s homestead system is officially on the table, not just the dollar figure. For homeowners and buyers, this debate goes directly to affordability. For local governments, it raises revenue stability and service delivery questions. There also has been movement on several identical pieces of legislation that would instruct parish assessors to develop a process for homeowners to permanently register for the homestead exemption for the duration that they own and live on the property. We are actively tracking legislation that will directly shape how investor activity and non-traditional transactions are recognized and regulated in Louisiana’s real estate market. This includes HB 468 by Troy Hebert , a key component of the Louisiana REALTORS® legislative package that targets the wholesale of residential real estate, which was heard in the House Commerce Committee on Monday. The bill is currently positioned for a floor vote early next week. As drafted, HB 468 represents a major step in the right direction for consumer protection in Louisiana, advancing needed guardrails through potential disclosure, registration, and practice standards that could redefine how assignment contracts and “off-market” transactions intersect with licensed brokerage activity. In parallel, HB 292 by Delisha Boyd passed the House on final reading, 86-3, and is on its way to the Senate. Together, these measures represent a coordinated policy effort to bring greater structure and transparency to emerging transaction models, while preserving the integrity of the traditional brokerage framework. Finally, the broader policy backdrop remains important: the Governor continues to push income tax changes and cost of living relief, while business and industry groups are prioritizing insurance, workforce and energy — each a key driver of long run housing demand and investment. As these debates evolve, we’ll keep you updated on what moves, what stalls and what it all means for your clients, your pipeline and private property rights across Louisiana. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
By Louisiana REALTORS® March 26, 2026
Tax Questions & Updates for 2026 Webinar Recording Now Available
Show More