Smoke and CO certificate fees in every Massachusetts town

What Massachusetts towns actually charge

Of the 351 cities and towns, 227 publish a single-family fee online. Most charge the full $50; 45 charge less. For the other 124 we couldn't find an official fee online, and the fire department will tell you the fee when you book.

5 towns publish a single-family figure above $50: Belmont, Sherborn, Braintree, Berlin and Dudley. State law sets a $50 cap for a single-family inspection, so if your town's fee looks higher, ask the fire department which fee applies.

Before the inspector comes

Most failed inspections come down to a missing or expired alarm. The state fire marshal's guide for one- and two-family homes lists what inspectors typically look for:

• Smoke alarms on every level, including the basement, at the base of each stairway and outside each sleeping area.
• Smoke alarms that are photoelectric and no more than 10 years old. An alarm with no date on it counts as expired.
• Replacement battery-only smoke alarms with 10-year sealed batteries and a hush button.
• Carbon monoxide alarms on every level, including habitable basements and attics, within 10 feet of each bedroom door.
• Power on for hardwired alarms, and the house number visible from the street.

The exact rules depend on when the house was built or last renovated. Newer homes must meet the building code that applied when they were permitted, which usually means hardwired, interconnected alarms. The state fire marshal's guide has the details, and our guide to the smoke and CO certificate covers the inspection, common reasons for failing, and how to schedule around a closing.

How we built this list

On September 27, 2026 we looked up all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns on their own official websites: fire department pages, published fee schedules and online permit portals. Where a town publishes a fee for the smoke and CO certificate on a single-family home, the table shows it with a link to the page it came from. Where we couldn't find an official fee online, because the town doesn't publish one or its website couldn't be read, the table says "Ask the fire department", and the department will give you the current fee when you book.

A few towns split inspections between separate fire districts, and some towns still link fee schedules that are several years old. Always confirm the fee when you book. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Sources: city and town websites · M.G.L. c.148 §§10A, 26F, 26F½ · Mass. Dept. of Fire Services · Checked September 27, 2026

If your town's fee has changed, email support@newenglandhomepartners.com and we'll update it. Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite this list with a link to this page.