Dennis, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 113 § 113-4
Smoke detectors required (Dennis Housing Space and Use)
Operative Text
The owners of all rental units, as described in § 113-1 above, shall be required to certify annually to the Dennis Health Department that operating smoke detectors have been placed in the rental units. The smoke detectors and locations thereof shall be satisfactory to the Dennis Fire Department.
Under Dennis, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 113 § 113-4, owners of covered rental units must certify to the Dennis Health Department each year that working smoke detectors are installed in those units. The placement and type of detectors must meet the approval of the Dennis Fire Department. This rule establishes an annual certification cycle rather than a one-time installation requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
CH. 113 § 113-4 places the certification obligation squarely on rental property owners, who are generally expected to submit annual documentation to the Dennis Health Department confirming that smoke detectors are operational. Compliant operators typically coordinate with the Dennis Fire Department to verify that detector placement meets its standards before submitting certification. Keeping records of each annual certification and any Fire Department approvals supports a clear compliance trail.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 113 § 113-4 establishes that tenants in covered Dennis rental units are entitled to have working, properly placed smoke detectors maintained by their landlord, backed by an annual certification process with the Dennis Health Department. If a tenant believes smoke detectors are absent, non-functional, or improperly located, they may consider contacting the Dennis Health Department or Dennis Fire Department to report the concern. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Massachusetts housing law can help explain what options are generally available when a landlord appears to be out of compliance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation