Combat the silent killer: Ontario Fire Code expands carbon monoxide alarm requirements
Changes are coming to the Ontario Fire Code and Kingston Fire & Rescue wants residents to know how it affects them.
As of Jan. 1, 2026, the Ontario Fire Code is introducing new requirements for carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in residences.
- In homes with a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage, alarms will now be required on every storey, not just near sleeping areas.
- In multi-unit residential buildings, alarms must be installed in all suites meeting certain conditions, service rooms, and, in some cases, public corridors.
- In care facilities and certain group homes, alarms will be required in suites and common areas.
Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer due to its nature – it is odourless, colourless and tasteless. Exposure can cause serious health issues and even death, and it is the leading cause of accidental poisonings in Ontario. It can only be detected with a CO alarm, making working alarms crucial for saving lives.
CO is produced when you burn any type of fuel, and it can be found both indoors and outdoors. It is lighter than air and can move freely throughout indoor spaces.
“CO alarms are a life-saving early warning system against carbon monoxide. They give you time to evacuate and can prevent CO poisoning or death. Alarms are a necessary device in all households, and we urge everyone to follow the new Fire Code regulations and install additional detectors in their residences,” says Ted Posadowski, Chief Fire Prevention Officer, Kingston Fire & Rescue.
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City of Kingston
City Hall
216 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3
Canada
contactus@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
