Working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms help protect your household. Use this page to prepare for a home sale inspection, check your alarms, or ask for help.
Apply in Avon’s online permitting system and select Smoke / CO Detector Inspection (Home Sale). New users need to register in the system. Contact Fire Prevention if you have a scheduling or property-specific question.
Prepare for a Home Sale Inspection
Massachusetts requires a certificate of compliance for smoke and CO alarms when a home is sold or transferred. The requirements for your home depend on when it was built and when it was renovated. Read the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services home sale inspection guide before your appointment.
- Find the year the home was built and the date of the most recent building permit for renovations.
- Check the location and manufacture date of each smoke and CO alarm against the state guide. Replace expired or missing alarms as needed.
- Test the alarms and ensure access to all areas that need to be inspected.
- Submit the Avon online application and include the property address and contact information. Let Fire Prevention know your anticipated closing or transfer date when discussing scheduling.
Alarm requirements vary by home. Contact Fire Prevention before changing locations or equipment if you are uncertain.
Smoke & CO Alarm Requirements by Permit Date
This quick guide is for typical one- and two-family homes in Massachusetts. Use the date of the original construction permit, or a later permit that required an alarm upgrade. The building and fire departments will determine the requirements for your particular home. The state home sale guide provides detailed placement and equipment rules.
| Construction or applicable permit date | Building code period | Typical smoke alarm baseline | Typical CO alarm baseline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before January 1, 1975 | Before the state building code | Alarms on every habitable level, at the base of stairways, and outside sleeping areas. Approved battery alarms may be used where permitted. | On each level, including habitable basement and attic areas, and within 10 feet of bedroom doors. |
| January 1, 1975–August 27, 1997 | Earlier 780 CMR editions (generally 1st–5th) | Hardwired, interconnected alarms on habitable levels, at stair bases, and outside sleeping areas; at least one per 1,200 square feet per level. | On each level and within 10 feet of bedroom doors; approved battery, plug-in, hardwired, or system-type alarms may be permitted. |
| August 28, 1997–December 31, 2007 | Generally 6th edition | Add an alarm inside every bedroom. Hardwired, interconnected alarms with battery backup; photoelectric where required near kitchens or bathrooms. | On each level and within 10 feet of bedroom doors; consult the permit and state guide for power and interconnection. |
| January 1, 2008–February 3, 2011 | 6th to 7th edition transition; check the permit date and residential code volume | Bedroom and outside-bedroom coverage; hardwired, interconnected with battery backup. A hardwired, interconnected heat alarm is required in an attached or under-house garage. | On each level and within 10 feet of bedroom doors; generally hardwired and interconnected with battery backup for this period. |
| February 4, 2011–December 31, 2017 | Generally 8th edition residential code | Photoelectric alarms throughout, including bedrooms and required level and stair locations; hardwired, interconnected with battery backup. Attached-garage heat alarm where required. | On each level and within 10 feet of bedroom doors; hardwired and interconnected with battery backup. |
| January 1, 2018–present | 9th edition initially; 10th edition first effective October 11, 2024. Either edition could be used during the transition through June 30, 2025; 10th edition thereafter. | Alarms in bedrooms, outside sleeping areas, and on required levels, with hardwired power, interconnection, and battery backup as applicable. Confirm the approved permit and current code for exact locations and equipment. | Coverage on required levels and near sleeping areas; confirm the approved permit and applicable 9th or 10th edition requirements. |
Renovations and added bedrooms: Substantial renovations, additions, or creation of a bedroom can trigger an upgrade of smoke and CO protection throughout the home to the code applicable to that permit. An older construction date alone may therefore be misleading. Contact the Building Department or Fire Prevention before replacing alarms or scheduling an inspection if your home has been modified.
Code dates are summarized from the Massachusetts building code edition history. See the Department of Fire Services guide for full requirements. This chart is a starting point, not an inspection approval.
Everyday Alarm Safety
Test your smoke and CO alarms regularly, replace alarms when they reach the end of their service life, and make a home escape plan. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services smoke and CO alarm guidance explains alarm types, placement, maintenance, and replacement.
Home Fire Safety Patrol & Alarm Assistance
Avon Fire Department runs the Home Fire Safety Patrol in conjunction with Butler Elementary School to help ensure that all Avon families have working smoke alarms. The program combines school fire safety education with home visits and smoke alarm installation assistance for families who need it.
Outside of the school program, Avon residents may email fireprevention@avon-ma.gov to request a home visit for smoke alarm assistance. The American Red Cross of Massachusetts Home Fire Campaign is another home fire safety resource.
Explore Fire Prevention
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- Fire protection systems
- Public education
- Plan Review
Contact Fire Prevention
Avon Fire Department
150 Main Street, Avon, MA 02322
Phone: (774) 480-1692
Email: fireprevention@avon-ma.gov
For an emergency, call 911.