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Brought to you by Daulton Read, President of Read Property Management

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Starting January 1, 2026, Ontario homeowners and landlords will need to comply with updated Ontario Fire Code requirements for carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. These changes significantly expand where alarms must be installed and are designed to improve early detection of this invisible and potentially deadly gas.

If you live in, own, or manage a home, townhouse, apartment, or condominium, this update applies to you.

What’s Changing on January 1, 2026

Under the updated Ontario Fire Code, Carbon monoxide alarms will be required on every floor.

Previously, CO alarms were only required near sleeping areas. As of January 1, 2026, a working CO alarm must be installed on every storey of a home, including:

• Basements

• Main floors without bedrooms

• Upper floors

Sleeping-area protection still applies. A CO alarm must still be installed adjacent to each sleeping area, in addition to the new “every-floor” requirement.

The updated rules apply to any dwelling that has:

• Gas, oil, or wood-burning furnaces or boilers

• Fuel-burning hot water heaters

• Fireplaces (gas or solid fuel)

• Fuel-burning stoves, ovens, or dryers

• An attached garage

• Heating supplied by air from a fuel-burning appliance located outside the dwelling (for example, a shared or external furnace room)

The requirements apply to:

• Apartments

• Condominiums

• Townhomes

• Other multi-residential buildings

In some cases, public corridors may also require CO alarms if fuel-burning equipment is present nearby.

Who Is Responsible?

Homeowners

• Ensure CO alarms are installed in all required locations

• Test alarms regularly and replace them at end-of-life

Landlords

• Install CO alarms according to the updated Fire Code

• Maintain alarms and ensure they are in working order

• Test alarms annually and during tenant turnover or battery replacement

• Provide tenants with instructions on alarm care and testing

Tenants

• Test alarms monthly

• Notify the landlord immediately if an alarm is damaged, missing, or not working

Everyone

• Replace CO alarms according to manufacturer instructions (typically every 5–10 years)

• Never disable or remove alarms

Practical Tips for Compliance & Safety

Check what you already have

Even if your home currently has CO alarms, you may need additional units to meet the “every-floor” requirement.

Buy certified alarms

Look for alarms certified by recognized testing agencies such as CSA, ULC, or ETL.

Maintain fuel-burning appliances

Have furnaces, fireplaces, and other fuel-burning equipment inspected annually by qualified professionals.

Test alarms regularly

• Test monthly

• Replace batteries or backup power as needed

• Replace the entire unit when it reaches end-of-life

Know the sound

Carbon monoxide alarms sound different from smoke alarms. Make sure everyone in the household recognizes the difference.

Have an emergency plan

If a CO alarm sounds:

1. Leave the home immediately

2. Call 911 from a safe location

3. Do not re-enter until emergency services say it’s safe

Never ignore a CO alarm — even if no one feels unwell.

Why This Matters

Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless, and impossible to detect without an alarm. Symptoms of CO exposure can range from headaches and dizziness to loss of consciousness — and in severe cases, death.

These updated rules are designed to detect carbon monoxide sooner, giving occupants more time to act and preventing serious harm.

With the January 1, 2026 deadline approaching, now is the time to review your home or building’s carbon monoxide protection and make any necessary upgrades.

A few extra alarms may feel like a small inconvenience — but they can make a life-saving difference.

If you’re unsure how these requirements apply to your unit or building, speak with a fire safety professional.

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