New Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements – Effective January 1, 2026

Ontario has updated the Ontario Fire Code to
strengthen carbon monoxide (CO) safety in residential buildings. These changes
take effect January 1, 2026.

Who Must Have Carbon Monoxide Alarms?

You are required to install carbon monoxide
alarms if your home or building contains any source of
CO, including:

  • A fuel-burning
    appliance
    (oil/propane/natural gas furnace, gas stove, gas water heater, wood stove,
    pellet stove, boiler, etc.)
  • A fireplace (wood,
    gas, pellet)
  • An attached
    garage or carport
  • A fuel-burning
    appliance in a service room     (for multi-unit buildings)

Homes NOT
required to have CO alarms

  • Homes
    with no fuel-burning appliances,
  • No
    fireplace    , and
  • No
    attached garage
    (e.g., fully electric homes)

WhatÂ’s Changing January 1, 2026?

Previous
requirement:

CO alarms were required near sleeping areas
only.

New
requirement:

If your home has a CO source, you must have:

  • A CO
    alarm on every level of the home    , including basements and any storey
    without bedrooms
  • CO
    alarms near all sleeping areas     (unchanged)

This applies to:

  • Detached
    homes
  • Semi-detached
    & townhomes
  • Cottages
    & seasonal dwellings (if they have a CO source)
  • Multi-unit
    residential buildings
  • Rental
    properties

Installation Tips

  • Install
    alarms outside bedrooms, and now on each floor as
    per the updated regulation.
  • Do not
    install CO alarms too close to fuel-burning appliances to avoid nuisance
    alarms.
  • Follow
    manufacturersÂ’ instructions for mounting height and placement.

Maintenance Requirements

To keep your alarms working properly:

  • Test
    monthly
  • Replace
    batteries at least once per year     (or as required)
  • Replace
    the entire alarm     when it reaches end-of-life
    (typically 7–10 years)
  • Keep
    vents and chimneys clear and have heating appliances serviced annually by
    a qualified technician

Landlords & Multi-Unit Buildings

Landlords are responsible for:

  • Installing
    CO alarms where required
  • Maintaining
    and replacing alarms
  • Ensuring
    alarms are functional at the start of each tenancy

Tenants are responsible for:

  • Testing
    alarms monthly
  • Reporting
    any issues or low-battery alerts immediately

Why These Changes Matter

Carbon monoxide is:

  • Colourless
  • Odourless
  • Deadly
    without warning

CO alarms are the only way to detect unsafe levels
in your home.

These expanded requirements provide earlier
warning, improving safety for residents and first responders.

Questions?

Residents may contact:

Echo Bay Fire Department
Matt Jarrell
Fire Chief
705-248-2211
echobayfire@gmail.com