Ontario CO alarms 2026 mark a major update to the Fire Code that affects homeowners, landlords, and rental properties across the province. These new requirements explain where you must install carbon monoxide alarms, how often you must replace them, and what to do if your home uses hardwired (120-volt) alarm systems.
Let’s break down what’s changing—and more importantly, what you should check in your home right now.
Ontario CO Alarm Requirements for 2026: What’s Changing
Under the updated Fire Code, you must follow these rules:
✔ You must install CO alarms adjacent to every sleeping area
✔ You must install CO alarms on every storey of the home
In addition, these rules apply if your home contains:
• A gas, oil, or propane furnace or water heater
• A fireplace or wood-burning appliance
• An attached garage
• Any fuel-burning equipment connected to the building
As a result, these requirements now affect houses, condos, apartments, rental units, and care occupancies across Ontario.
Smoke Alarm Rules (Still in Effect)
Ontario already requires working smoke alarms:
✔ On every level of the home
✔ Outside all sleeping areas
However, compliance goes beyond placement alone. Alarm age matters just as much as location, especially as older units lose sensitivity over time.
Under Ontario CO alarm requirements for 2026, homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages must install carbon monoxide alarms on every floor and near all sleeping areas.
The Big Misconception: “It’s Hardwired, So It’s Fine”
Many homes use 120-volt hardwired alarms with battery backup. These systems work well; however, they do not last forever.
All Alarms Expire
- Smoke alarms: Replace every 10 years
- Carbon monoxide alarms: Replace every 5–10 years (check the manufacturer label)
Even if your alarm:
✔ Has power
✔ Still beeps when you press “test”
✔ Connects directly to your electrical system
…it may no longer detect smoke or CO accurately once the sensor reaches the end of its service life.
Most importantly, you must replace hardwired alarms entirely. Changing batteries alone does not restore proper detection.
Who Is Responsible?
- Homeowners: You must ensure alarms are installed correctly, remain functional, and stay within their service life.
- Landlords: You must supply, maintain, and replace alarms in rental units.
- Tenants: You must notify your landlord if alarms fail, chirp, or go missing.
In short, everyone plays a role in keeping homes safe and compliant.
Home Safety Checklist
To stay compliant with Ontario CO alarms 2026, follow this checklist:
✅ First, check the manufacture date on the back of each alarm
✅ Then, replace:
• Smoke alarms older than 10 years
• CO alarms older than 5–7 years (or per manufacturer)
✅ Next, install CO alarms on every floor and near bedrooms
✅ Test alarms monthly
✅ Replace batteries annually (unless sealed 10-year models)
✅ Finally, service fuel-burning appliances regularly
Ontario’s 2026 Fire Code updates improve early warning and save lives. That said, even the best regulations won’t protect you if your alarms are outdated.
If your home still uses older hardwired alarms, now is the time to upgrade.
A modern, code-compliant alarm system provides better protection for your family, tenants, and property.
Need help replacing or upgrading your smoke and CO alarms?
Contact us — we’ll make sure your home is safe, compliant, and future-ready.
The law is changing for carbon monoxide alarms | City of Ottawa