Smoke Detectors: Arlington vs Somerville
How do smoke detectors rules compare between Arlington, MA and Somerville, MA?
Arlington and Somerville have similar restriction levels.
Arlington, MA
Middlesex County
Smoke detectors in Middlesex County follow 527 CMR 1.00 and MGL c.148 s.26F. Homes sold or transferred require a Smoke Certificate inspection by the local fire department before closing.
View full Arlington rules →Somerville, MA
Middlesex County
Massachusetts requires smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in every dwelling. Somerville Fire Department inspects before any sale or transfer of residential property under MGL c.148 s.26F.
View full Somerville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington | Somerville |
|---|---|---|
| State law | MGL c.148 s.26F | MGL c.148 s.26F and 26F-1/2 |
| Code | 527 CMR 1.00 | - |
| Type required | Photoelectric with sealed 10-yr | - |
| Sale requirement | Smoke Certificate mandatory | - |
| CO detectors | Required within 10 ft of bedroom | - |
| Pre-sale inspection | - | Required by Somerville Fire |
| Carbon monoxide | - | Required outside sleeping areas |
| New construction | - | Hardwired interconnected |
| Inspection fee | - | From 50 dollars |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington FAQ
Do I need a smoke inspection to sell my house?
Yes. Massachusetts requires a Smoke and CO Certificate from the local fire department before closing on any residential property.
Can I use ionization smoke alarms?
New installations since 2017 must be photoelectric. Existing ionization units installed earlier are generally grandfathered until replacement.
Somerville FAQ
Do I need an inspection before selling my home?
Yes. Somerville Fire must issue a smoke and CO compliance certificate before any sale or transfer.
Are battery detectors allowed?
In 1-2 family homes built before 1975, yes. Newer homes need hardwired interconnected units.
Compare other topics
See how Arlington and Somerville compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool