Cambridge enforces strict smoke and carbon monoxide detector rules under MGL c.148 s.26F and 527 CMR 1.00. Cambridge Fire Department inspects every home at point of sale and issues a required Certificate of Compliance.
Massachusetts law requires photoelectric smoke alarms on every level of a residence, inside and outside each sleeping area, under MGL c.148 s.26F and s.26F1/2. Carbon monoxide alarms are separately required on every level where there is a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, under MGL c.148 s.26F1/2 and Nicoles Law. Cambridge Fire Department conducts a mandatory smoke and CO inspection before every residential sale or transfer and issues a Certificate of Compliance that closing attorneys require. Homes built before 1975 may use battery-only alarms, but newer homes and any home undergoing significant renovation must have hardwired, interconnected alarms with battery backup. Sealed 10-year battery alarms are required as replacements for any battery-only units. Cambridge Fire Prevention can be reached at 617-349-4900 to schedule inspections.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge enforces numerical decibel limits: 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night at residential receptors, with a 5 dBA penalty for tonal or impulsive sounds.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge treats persistent barking as a noise violation under Chapter 8.16 and an animal nuisance under Chapter 6.04; owners of chronically barking dogs fac...
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge banned gas-powered leaf blowers in 2024, requiring all landscapers and residents to switch to electric models, with time and decibel restrictions r...
Cambridge, MA
Outdoor music events in Cambridge require a one-day entertainment license from the License Commission, with end times typically capped at 10 PM on weeknights...
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge enforces strict industrial and commercial noise limits: 60 dB days and 50 dB nights at residential property lines, aligned with MassDEP Policy 90-001.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge reserves designated EV charging station spaces for actively charging electric vehicles only, and new large developments must provide EV-ready parki...
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