Smoke Detector Laws in Massachusetts

Homes

• Under Massachusetts law, any home sold in the state must first be inspected by the local fire department. The purpose of the inspection is to make sure properly working smoke detectors are in place. The fire department must issue a certificate before the property can be transferred indicating that it contains properly functioning smoke detectors.

It Takes Two

• Certain buildings in Massachusetts are required to have both an ionization smoke detector and a photoelectric smoke detector under new regulations that went into effect in April 2010. Residential buildings that contain six dwelling units or fewer and stand under 70 feet tall, as well as residential buildings that have not been altered since Jan 1, 1975, are impacted by the new regulation.

Location

• Ionization smoke detectors may only be used in certain areas of the building or home because they cannot distinguish between steam and smoke. Ionization smoke detectors cannot be placed within 20 feet of a kitchen or a bathroom that has a shower or bathtub.