Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XX Chapter 148
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 148, § 26G (2026)

Automatic sprinkler systems required for buildings and structures totaling more than 7,500 gross square feet

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 26G. Every building or structure, including any additions or major alterations thereto, which totals, in the aggregate, more than 7,500 gross square feet in floor area shall be protected throughout with an adequate system of automatic sprinklers in accordance with the provisions of the state building code. No such sprinkler system shall be required unless sufficient water and water pressure exists. For purposes of this section, the gross square footage of a building or structure shall include the sum total of the combined floor areas for all floor levels, basements, sub-basements and additions, in the aggregate, measured from the outside walls, irrespective of the existence of interior fire resistive walls, floors and ceilings. This section shall not apply to buildings used for agricultural purposes as defined in section 1A of chapter 128.

In such buildings or structures, or in certain areas of such buildings or structures, where the discharge of water would be an actual danger in the event of fire, the head of the fire department shall permit the installation of such other fire suppressant systems as are prescribed by the state building code in lieu of automatic sprinklers. Automatic suppressant or sprinkler systems shall not be required in rooms or areas of a telephone central office equipment building when such rooms or areas are protected with an automatic fire alarm system. Sprinkler systems shall not be required in open-air parking structures, defined as: buildings, structures, or portions thereof, used for parking motor vehicles and having not less than twenty-five per cent of the total wall area open to atmosphere at each level, utilizing at least two sides of the structure. This section shall not apply to buildings or additions used for residential purposes.

The head of the fire department shall enforce the provisions of this section.

Whoever is aggrieved by the head of the fire department's interpretation, order, requirement, direction or failure to act under the provisions of this section, may, within forty-five days after the service of notice thereof, appeal from such interpretation, order, requirement, direction or failure to act to the automatic sprinkler appeals board as provided in section two hundred and one of chapter six. The board may grant a reasonable waiver from the provisions of this section, or may allow the installation of a reasonable alternative or modified system of automatic sprinklers upon reviewing the characteristics of buildings that have architectural or historical significance.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 1987–2016 · leading case: MacLaurin v. City of Holyoke, 475 Mass. 231 (Mass. 2016).
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MacLaurin v. City of Holyoke, 475 Mass. 231 (Mass. 2016). · cites it 8× “Because the fire chief appears to have considered the meaning of “substantially rehabilitated so as to constitute the equivalent of new construction” of a residential building of four or more units to be essentially the same as the meaning of “major alterations” in the context…”
United States v. Troy, 618 F.3d 27 (1st Cir. 2010). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 148, § 26G/&. The law demanded, among other things, that these facilities install sprinkler systems by a specified deadline.”
Congregation Beth Sholom & Cmty. Ctr., Inc. v. Bldg. Comm'r, 537 N.E.2d 605 (Mass. App. Ct. 1989). · cites it 5× “, filed a complaint in the Superior Court against various officials of the town of Framingham, raising the issue whether work it did in a building it owns and occupies *277 constituted “major alterations” and whether, as a consequence, it is required by the terms of G. L. c.…”
Chief of the Fire Dep't of Worcester v. Wibley, 507 N.E.2d 256 (Mass. App. Ct. 1987). · cites it 6× “According to the complaint, the sprinkler system was required by G. L.c. 148, § 26G. 2 The defendants, in their answer, agreed with the allegations contained in the complaint but stated that G.”
M&R Indus. Park Trust v. Goldrosen, 22 Mass. L. Rptr. 259 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2006). · cites it 3× “Around the same time, Scott Kelly (“Kelly”), trustee of M&R, learned that G.L.c. 148, §26G, the statutory requirement for sprinkler systems in the Commonwealth, only applies to buildings larger than 7,500 square feet.”
Iodice v. City of Newton, 10 Mass. L. Rptr. 716 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1999). · cites it 2× “Among the topics addressed in correspondence between the parties during this period was a memo *718 randum Issued by the Newton Fire Department, expressing its interpretation of G.L.c. 148, §§26G and I. 6 As described by Assistant Chief LaCroix to the SBCAB, this document was…”
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