The Smoke and CO Certificate: The Cheapest Thing That Delays Massachusetts Closings

Massachusetts sellers must obtain a fire department Certificate of Compliance for smoke and CO alarms before transferring residential property. It is cheap and fast, but fire department scheduling makes it a common closing delay.

Anyone selling residential property in Massachusetts, and buyers verifying the seller's obligations.

• •Seller's obligation under M.G.L. c. 148 §26F and §26F½
• •Local fire department inspects and issues the certificate
• •Expired alarms are the most common failure, even if they still beep
• •Certificates carry a local expiration, commonly cited as 60 days
• •Book at accepted offer, not the week of closing