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Carbon Monoxide

The House and Senate have both passed Nicole's Law, S2152, which requires carbon monoxide detectors in homes. The Governor signed the measure into law on November 4th, 2005 and becomes effective in 180 days - May 4, 2006

Devices will be required in any residence ('Every dwelling, building or structure, occupied in whole or in part for residential purposes"):

(1) contains equipment fossil-fuel burning equipment including, but not limited to, a furnace, boiler, water heater, fireplace or any other apparatus, appliance or device; or

(2) incorporates enclosed parking within its structure."

A fee of $25 - $50 may be charged by the fire department for any permit unless a smoke detector inspection is also conducted at the same time. In that case, the owner will not be subject to an additional fee for the carbon monoxide detector inspection.

The fee for either a carbon monoxide detector inspection or a smoke detector inspection, conducted separately, shall not exceed: $50 for a single-family dwelling or a single dwelling unit; $100 for a 2-family dwelling; $150 for any building or structure with 6 or fewer residential units; and $500 for any building or structure with more than 6 units.

The Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention will now work to create regulations including, but not limited to, the type, installation, location, maintenance and inspection requirements of carbon monoxide detectors. We will keep you posted as new information is obtained.

• View the full text of the law [pdf format]
• View the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services website

Read the text of Nicole's Law [Amendments to section 10A of M.G.L. Chapter 148] on the Mass.gov website