Starting January 1, 2026, new provincial safety requirements will expand where carbon monoxide (CO) alarms must be installed in existing homes across Ontario. These updates are part of the Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07) and aim to better protect residents from carbon monoxide, an invisible, odourless, and deadly gas.
Who Is Affected
The updated rules apply to all existing homes that have any of the following:
- A fuel-burning appliance (for example, natural gas, propane, oil, or wood furnace, water heater, stove)
- A fireplace
- An attached garage
- New as of Jan. 1, 2026: Heating air supplied from a fuel-burning appliance located outside the home (for example, in a utility shed). This includes detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses, and cottages.
What’s Changing in 2026
If any of the above conditions apply to your home, CO alarms will now be required in two key locations:
- Adjacent to each sleeping area (near all bedrooms)
- On every storey of the home, even floors without sleeping areas. (New requirement effective Jan. 1, 2026)
Choosing the Right CO Alarm
When purchasing a CO alarm, ensure it is certified by a recognized standards testing agency, such as:
- Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
- Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC), or
- Intertek (ETL)
Alarms may be hardwired, battery-operated, or plug-in units, and combination smoke/CO alarms are permitted. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
CO alarms can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged directly into an electrical receptacle. When replacing an expired or defective CO alarm, the level of protection cannot be lower than the Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements that the building was built under. For example, if the OBC required hard-wired, interconnected CO alarms at the time of construction, the same type of CO alarms need to be re-installed. A battery operated or plug-in style CO alarm is not permitted in this case. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Who Is Responsible?
- Homeowners are responsible for meeting Fire Code CO alarm requirements in owner-occupied homes
- Landlords are responsible for ensuring compliance in rental properties.
Need More Information?
Residents with questions about the updated requirements should contact the Kingsville Fire Department, the authority responsible for enforcing the Fire Code, at (519) 733-2314.