Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Information

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector RequirementsSmoke Detector Image



For ease of use, the informational links are based on when your house was built. However, if the property was renovated with additional bedrooms, added an attached garage or major alterations including gutting, re-configuring bedroom walls, installing hard-wired smoke detectors, etc., choose the link for the time period when the renovation was performed. The year the renovations were performed will supersede the original construction date.

Once smoke detectors are hard-wired they need to remain hard-wired.

Every level of the home must have at least 1 smoke detector and 1 carbon monoxide detector.
Smoke detectors older than 10 years old need to be replaced. 
Carbon Monoxide detectors need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years depending on the manufacturer's instructions. 

On December 1, 2016, the State of Massachusetts updated the smoke detector requirements for residences built prior to 1975.  Most of these residences will have only battery-operated smoke detectors.


Smoke Detector Inspections


A Certificate of Compliance is required for the sale or transfer of a property (M.G.L. c 148 s.26).

As of Monday, June 15, 2020, the Fire Department will start accepting phone calls to schedule appointments for smoke detector inspections.  Fire Department Headquarters is still closed to the public. 

Please call 413-562-2329 option #2 or (413) 572-6307 during normal business hours to schedule an appointment for a smoke detector inspection.  If your home is a multi-family dwelling, please specify the number of units.  Questions may be asked as to when your property was built and if there were major renovations to your home and when they occurred.

At the time of the inspection, residents may be asked to remain outside, for social distancing requirements, as the Deputy and/or Fire Department personnel performs the inspection of the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Inspection Fee: 

In Person:

  The inspection fee will be collected at the time of the appointment in the form of a personal check, bank check or money order and made payable to "City of Westfield".  (Cash is not an option). 

Online:

  The fee may also now be paid online within 24 hours of scheduling your appointment. (Please do not use this option if paying for an appointment that has been scheduled for the following day.)   Online payments may be paid by a credit or debit card or by an electronic check. (There are varying processing fees with a credit/debit card payment.  An electronic check's processing fee is $.25.  Effective March 2, 2021 the electronic check's processing fee will be $.50.)  

  

Single Family Home, Condo, or Mobile Home:  $40
Multi Family Dwellings:  $40 for the first unit; $10 for each additional unit
              For example:   Two Family $50
                                      Three Family $60

In the event the property fails due to incorrect smoke detectors, expired detectors, lack of detectors, etc., the re-inspection fee is $40.  This fee is also available to be paid online using the link above. 

To obtain a copy of the requirements your house must have for the inspection, please refer to the information at the top of this webpage.