Toronto 
Ontario will introduce stricter carbon monoxide (CO) safety rules beginning January 1, 2026, to strengthen protection for residents against the deadly gas.
Credit: First Alert
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that can be fatal and cannot be detected without an alarm. Ontario records several accidental deaths each year linked to CO exposure, incidents that officials say could have been prevented with proper alarms.
Since 2014, provincial regulations have required CO alarms outside sleeping areas in homes with fuel-fired appliances, fireplaces or attached garages. The upcoming expansion under the Ontario Fire Code broadens these rules to cover more living spaces and building types.
New CO Alarm Rules Effective January 1, 2026:
- Homes with a fuel-fired appliance, fireplace, attached garage, or that receive heated air from an external fuel-fired appliance (e.g., a utility shed) must have CO alarms on every storey, including those without sleeping areas.
- Requirements will apply to multi-unit residential buildings, including apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels, and retirement homes.
- Care occupancies, buildings where residents require assistance to evacuate, such as long-term care facilities, must also install CO alarms.
- CO alarms may be hardwired, battery-operated, or plug-in. Combined smoke and CO alarm devices are also permitted.
Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg said the updated rules aim to prevent avoidable tragedies, noting that “only a CO alarm will alert you to exposure.”
According to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), more than 65 per cent of CO-related injuries and deaths in Ontario occur in homes.
Further information is available at Ontario.ca/CarbonMonoxide or from local fire departments.
