Smoke/CO Inspections

Smoke and CO Inspections are conducted in order to certify that a property has been equipped with approve smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and was found to be in compliance with Massachusetts General Law,  Section 26 F & 26 F ½.

Inspections are conducted Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 12:00pm.  Inspections may be scheduled and paid for online by clicking here.  You can also call 781-293-1751 x196 or email [email protected] to schedule an inspection.  

The cost of a Smoke/CO inspection for resale is $30.00 and is payable anytime by using our online payment system or at the time of inspection with a check or money order made out to the Town of Halifax.  For new construction or additions, the cost of the required smoke/co inspection sign off is included with the building permit fee.

General Requirements

For Resale and New Construction/Building Card Sign Off Inspections, the officer conducting the inspection will be looking for several things.  These include but are not limited to:

• Smoke Detectors are less than 10 years old and within 10' of each bedroom.
• CO Detectors are less than 7 years old and within 10' of each bedroom.
• Residential house numbers are visible on the building as well as at the street end of a long driveway.
• Homes built prior to 1975 are allowed to have battery operated smoke detectors, one on each level, at the base of each stairway and outside the sleeping areas.  
• Homes built between 1975 - 1997 must have hard-wired smoke detectors, one on each lever, at the base of each stairway and outside sleeping areas or in each bedroom.
• Homes built after 1997 must have smoke detectors on each level, base of each stairway and in every bedroom.
• Effective  2010, all homes built prior to 1975 must have battery operated photoelectric smoke detectors within 20' of a kitchen or bathroom.

Please click here to access a full guide to Massachusetts Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Requirements.