Massachusetts

For Massachusetts, inspection required at sale? is a system shall be inspected at or within two years prior to the time of transfer of title to the facility served by the system; authority is 310 CMR 15.301, verified against its source on 2026-08-18.

Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.

What the source says

Inspection at Time of Transfer . Except as provided in 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-301> 15.301 (2), 15.301(3), and 15.301(4), a system shall be inspected at or within two years prior to the time of transfer of title to the facility served by the system. An inspection conducted up to three years before the time of transfer may be used if the inspection report is accompanied by system pumping records demonstrating that the system has been pumped at least once a year during that time. If weather conditions preclude inspection at the time of transfer, the inspection may be completed as soon as weather permits, but in no event later than six months after the transfer, provided that the seller notifies the buyer in writing of the requirements of 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-300> 15.300 through <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-305> 15.305 . A copy of the complete inspection report shall be submitted to the buyer or other person acquiring title to the facility served by the system. (2) The following transactions shall not be considered transfers of title for the purposes of 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-301> 15.301 (1): (a) taking a security interest in a property, including but not limited to issuance of a mortgage; (b) refinancing a mortgage or similar instrument, whether or not the identity of the lender remains the same; (c) a change in the form of ownership among the same owners, such as placing the facility within a family trust of which the owners are the beneficiaries, or changing the proportionate interests among a group of owners or beneficiaries; (d) adding or deleting a spouse as an owner or beneficiary; or a transfer between spouses during life, out right or in trust; or the death of a spouse; (e) the appointment of or a change in a guardian, conservator, or trustee. (3) Applicability to Specific Transfers of Title . (a) Units in a Condominium or Cooperative Corporation . The cooperative corporation or condominium association shall be responsible for the inspection, maintenance, and upgrade of any system or systems serving the units, unless otherwise provided in the governing documents of the condominium association or the cooperative corporation. For a facility comprised of five or more condominium or cooperative units, each system located on the facility shall be inspected at least once every three years instead of at time of transfer of title and all existing systems shall be inspected by December 1, 1996. For a facility comprised of fewer than five condominium or cooperative units: 1. each system located on the facility shall be inspected at least once every three years and all existing systems shall be inspected by December 1, 1996, or 2. at the time of transfer of title of any unit, the system serving that unit shall be inspected in accordance with the time of transfer provisions of 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-301> 15.301 . (b) Foreclosure or Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure . Inspection of the system must occur within two years before or six months after the execution of the memorandum of sale (irrespective of whether the foreclosing institution, the loan guarantor, the loan servicer, an unaffiliated third party, or any combination thereof, is/are executing such memorandum of sale) or delivery of the deed in lieu of foreclosure to the foreclosing institution or the loan servicer. An inspection conducted up to three years before the time of transfer may be used if the inspection report is accompanied by system pumping records demonstrating that the system has been pumped at least once a year during that time. To the extent that foreclosing institutions or loan servicers have contractually allocated responsibility for the inspection to the unaffiliated third party or the loan guarantor acquiring the property within the specified timeframes, such foreclosing institutions or loan servicers will not be responsible for inspection of the system(s). Entities foreclosing on properties are required to notify those who acquire title of the inspection and upgrade requirements contained at 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-300> 15.300 through <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-305> 15.305 , in writing, prior to or at the time of transfer. (c) Inheritance by Will or Intestacy (Without a Will) . With the exception of inheritance by a spouse or inheritance of residential real property between any of the relationships listed in 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-301> 15.301 (4)(d), the inspection of the system must occur within two years before or one year after the will being allowed by the probate court and the appointment of the executor; or within two years before or one year after the appointment of an administrator if the deceased dies intestate regardless of whether the property passes specifically or as part of the residue of the estate. An inspection conducted up to three years before the time of transfer may be used if the inspection report is accompanied by system pumping records demonstrating that the system has been pumped at least once a year during that time. Executors or administrators are required to notify, in writing, those who acquire title to real property from an estate of the inspection and upgrade requirements contained at 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-300> 15.300 through <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-305> 15.305 . (d) Legal Life Estate or an Interest for Life or for a Term of Years in Trust . Inspection of the system must occur within two years before or six months of the death of the life tenant or the expiration of a present interest in trust for a term of years. If a successive life interest or an interest in trust for a term of years passes to a spouse, the inspection must occur within two years before or six months of the death of the last surviving spouse or the expiration of a present interest in trust to the spouse for a term of years. An inspection conducted up to three years before the time of transfer may be used if the inspection report is accompanied by system pumping records demonstrating that the system has been pumped at least once a year during that time. (e) Interfamily Transfers That Are Not Excluded Under 310 CMR 15.301(4)(d). Inspection of the system must occur within two years prior to transfer of title or if weather conditions prevent inspection at the time of transfer, the inspection must occur as soon as the weather permits, but in no event later than six months after the transfer. An inspection conducted up to three years before the time of transfer may be used if the inspection report is accompanied by system pumping records demonstrating that the system has been pumped at least once a year during that time. (f) Tax Taking Either by the Federal, State, or Municipal Government . Inspection of the system must occur within two years prior to transfer by governmental entity to buyer or within six months after the expiration of the right of redemption, provided that the governmental entity notifies the buyer in writing of the requirements contained at 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-300> 15.300 through <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-305> 15.305 for inspection and upgrade, if necessary. An inspection conducted up to three years before the time of transfer may be used if the inspection report is accompanied by system pumping records demonstrating that the system has been pumped at least once a year during that time. (g) Levy of Execution that Results in a Conveyance of Property . Inspection of the system must occur within two years prior to officer's deed of debtor's interest to buyer or within six months after the expiration of the right of redemption, provided that the officer notifies the buyer in writing of the requirements contained at 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-300> 15.300 through <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-305> 15.305 for inspection and upgrade, if necessary. An inspection conducted up to three years before the time of transfer may be used if the inspection report is accompanied by system pumping records demonstrating that the system has been pumped at least once a year during that time. (h) Bankruptcy . Inspection of the system must occur within two years prior to transfer by bankruptcy trustee to buyer or within six months after the transfer, provided that the debtor notifies the buyer in writing of the requirements contained at 310 CMR <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-300> 15.300 through <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-305> 15.305 for inspection and upgrade, if necessary. An inspection conducted up to three years before the time of transfer may be used if the inspection report is accompanied by system pumping records demonstrating that the system has been pumped at least once a year during that time. (i) Change in Ownership or the Form of Ownership Where New Parties are Introduced ( e.g ., introduction of new beneficiary/ies in a nominee trust; introduction of new joint tenant(s) or new tenant(s) in common; introduction of new parties where property is transferring from joint ownership to nominee or business trust, or where a new general partner is introduced; creation of a legal life estate or an interest for life or for a term of years in trust for a party other than the creator or his or her spouse; a change in the controlling ownership interest of a corporation, etc .). Inspection of the system must occur within two years prior to transfer or if weather conditions prevent inspection at the time of transfer, the inspection must occur as soon as weather permits, but in no event later than six months after the transfer,

— law.cornell.edu, retrieved 2026-08-18

Source

• law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/310-CMR-15-301

Last verified against source: 2026-08-18. Due for re-check by 2027-08-18. This page as Markdown · OKF bundle · full dataset as JSON.