CARBON MONOXIDE
ALARM RULES

EXISTING HOMES

Attention Homeowners & Landlords,

New Safety Requirements Starting January 1, 2026

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odourless, and deadly gas. Keeping your family safe means ensuring you have working CO alarms properly installed in your home.
New requirements are coming into effect on January 1, 2026, that expand where CO alarms must be placed in existing homes.

Where Do the New Requirements Apply?

The updated requirements apply to all existing homes that have any of the following:

• A fuel-burning appliance (like a furnace, water heater, or stove that uses natural gas, propane, oil, or wood).
• A fireplace.
• An attached garage.
• Effective Jan 1, 2026: Air for heating that comes from a fuel-burning appliance not contained within the home (e.g., an appliance in a utility shed).

Common types of homes include:

• Detached or Semi-Detached Houses
• Townhouses
• Cottages

Where Must CO Alarms Be Installed?

If your home meets any of the conditions above, you must install a CO alarm in these two locations:

1. Adjacent to each sleeping area (near all bedrooms).
2. Effective Jan 1, 2026: On every storey (floor) of your home, including storeys that do\not have a sleeping area.

CO alarm installation requirements are outlined in Section 2.16 of Division B of the Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07)

Buying and Installing Your CO Alarms

Buying
When buying a CO alarm, make sure it has the logo of a recognized standards testing agency to ensure they meet Canadian performance standards. Some examples of recognized standards testing agencies and their logos include:

o Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
o Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
o Intertek (ETL)

• Under the Fire Code, carbon monoxide alarms are permitted to be:
o Hardwired (connected directly to an electrical system).
o Battery-operated (portable or permanently mounted).
o Plug-in devices (plugs into a standard electrical outlet).
• Many devices on the market are combined units that include both a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm in one device.

Installing

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and placement of CO alarms.

Who is Responsible for Compliance?

• In Owner-Occupied homes, the Homeowner is responsible for complying with the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code.
• In Rental Homes, the Landlord is responsible for complying with the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code.

Need Clarification?

For questions about CO alarm requirements that may apply to your home, please contact your local fire department. They are the authority responsible for enforcing the Fire Code in your area.

CO alarm installation requirements are outlined in Section 2.16 of Division B of the Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07).