New carbon monoxide alarm requirements for 2026

New Ontario fire code rules took effect on January 1, 2026. At the centre of these updates is stricter, more widespread use of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in residential settings.

All homeowners, including landlords, must now install CO alarms if their property has:

• A fuel-burning appliance

• A fireplace

• An attached garage

• Heating supplied by a fuel-burning appliance that is not contained within the residence

Alarms must be installed adjacent to every sleeping area and on every storey of the home, including levels without bedrooms. This applies whether the property is owner-occupied or rented out.

In apartments and condos, CO alarms are also required if a unit:

• Is located above, below, or beside a service room or garage

• Is heated by air from a fuel-burning appliance not contained within the unit

These buildings also require alarms in public corridors if they are heated by fuel-burning systems.

Landlords, and in turn property managers, are responsible for installing, maintaining, and testing CO alarms annually, and for providing tenants with maintenance instructions. Tenants must report any malfunctions or signs of failure.

Combination smoke and CO alarms can be used to meet these new requirements.

If your properties haven't been brought up to code already, act fast. Delays don’t just increase the risk of fines, they increase the risk to tenant health and safety.

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