New carbon monoxide laws coming to Ontario in January 2026: What you need to know

Starting January 1, 2026, the Ontario Fire Code is being updated to significantly strengthen carbon monoxide (CO) protection in residential buildings. These changes, officially O. Reg. 87/25, mean that many homeowners and landlords will need to install additional carbon monoxide detectors to comply with the new, stricter requirements.

Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming changes.

Key Changes Coming in 2026

• Alarms on Every Level: Previously, CO alarms were generally required only adjacent to sleeping areas. As of January 1, 2026, a working CO alarm is required on every storey of a home, including basements and levels without sleeping areas.

• Targeted Properties: The new rules apply to homes (detached, semi-detached, town homes, condos, and apartments) that have a fuel-burning appliance (furnace, fireplace, gas stove, hot water heater), a fireplace, or an attached garage.

• External Sources: If your home is heated by air from a fuel-burning appliance located outside your home (e.g., in a detached utility shed), you must also have a CO alarm.

• Multi-Unit Requirements: In apartment and condo buildings, CO alarms must be installed in units adjacent to service rooms containing fuel-burning appliances or parking garages.

Responsibilities and Enforcement

• Landlords: Landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining CO alarms in rental units, as well as providing tenants with manufacturer’s maintenance instructions.

• Homeowners: Homeowners must ensure their homes are in compliance with the updated Fire Code.

• Penalties: Removing or tampering with CO alarms can lead to fines of up to $50,000 for an individual and/or one-year imprisonment.

How to Prepare

• Identify Sources: Take inventory of all fuel-burning appliances (gas, oil, wood, propane) and your attached garage.

• Plan Placement: Ensure a CO alarm is installed on every floor of your home, specifically near all sleeping areas.

• Check Certification: Buy alarms with a Canadian certification mark (CSA-6.19 or ULC 2034).

• Maintain Alarms: Test alarms monthly, change batteries yearly (unless they are sealed, long-life models), and replace units every 7–10 years, as they do not last forever.

• Combo Units: You may use combination smoke/CO alarms to meet these requirements.

If your CO alarm sounds or if you suspect CO poisoning, leave the home immediately and call 9-1-1

This article was taken from: Website of Government of Canada