As of January 1, 2026, changes to the Ontario Fire Code will require increased carbon monoxide (CO) alarm detection in residential occupancies and care occupancies.
CO is a silent killer: it’s colourless, odourless, tasteless and can be deadly when inhaled in high concentrations. It’s produced when fuels like wood, gas, oil, or propane don’t burn completely. Without proper ventilation, CO can build up indoors, making a working carbon monoxide alarm essential for home safety.
A carbon monoxide alarm is a device that detects unsafe levels of CO in your home and sounds an alarm to warn you to evacuate. Because CO is undetectable by human senses, an alarm is the only reliable way to know that it is present.
In Ontario, carbon monoxide alarms are legally required in any home that has:
- A fuel-burning appliance (like a gas stove, water heater, or fireplace),
- A wood-burning fireplace, or
- An attached garage
- An outdoor furnace
This applies to detached houses, townhouses, apartments and condos.
For more info and tips, visit ottawa.ca.
