Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector Inspections

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector inspection deferrals, all requests for inspections will be scheduled on a first-come, first serve basis. Compliance inspections are required prior to the sale or transfer. Inspection requests should be submitted early to allow time for re-inspection and avoid delays in the closing of the sale. Compliance Certificates expire 60 days after the date of issue.

 A $50 inspection fee is required at the time of scheduling and it can be paid by cash, check, or Online. Checks are to be made payable to the Town of Falmouth.  In-person applications can be made at 399 Main Street, King Street Entrance, Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM. 

A representative of the owner or occupant must be available at the time of inspection; Inspectors shall not enter unoccupied buildings at any time.

We do inspections in the villages of Falmouth, Woods Hole, North Falmouth, and West Falmouth on Wednesdays. East Falmouth inspections are done on Thursdays.

If your house has a low voltage fire alarm system, (the type that is monitored or has been monitored in the past by a central station alarm company) then an NFPA 72 Alarm Test and Sensitivity report from your alarm company, dated within 1 year of the closing must be forwarded to Fire Prevention before the date of inspection. 

A house number visible from the street is also required at the time of inspection. If the number is on the house, but not visible from the street, one must be posted at the end of the driveway.

Certificates of Compliance are only valid for 60 days. Please see the Guide to Massachusetts Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Requirements, on this website, for more specific information about what is required in order to receive a Certificate of Compliance for resale of your house, including locations of Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

A re-inspection fee of $50.00 will be required in the following circumstances:

• No house number posted, in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 148, Section 59, and Chapter 99 of the Falmouth Town Code.

• No smoke detectors or Carbon Monoxide detectors located in home upon Inspectors' arrival.

• No batteries in detector or a non-functioning smoke detector. (Non-functioning shall mean that the horn doesn’t sound).

• Not the required amount of smoke detectors located in the structure. (A minimum of one (1) smoke detector per floor for every 1,200 sq. ft.) Smoke detectors not in the correct locations. 

• Smoke detectors that are over ten years old or Carbon Monoxide detectors over six years old.

• If the Broker/ Homeowner doesn’t show up for his/ her scheduled appointment and there is no contact prior to the inspection.

• Alarm technician not present in order to conduct a test of fire alarm system.