New carbon monoxide laws coming into effect for Ontario in 2026
Stay up-to-date on Ontario’s new carbon monoxide laws coming into effect starting Jan. 1, 2026.
Carbon monoxide detectors save lives, and most provinces require them in your home. So it's important to understand the rules and regulations that your region has in place. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Ontario will be implementing new carbon monoxide regulations to keep residents safe from the ‘silent killer.’
“A major update that's going to impact most people, I would say, is the addition of the requirement to have it on every level of your house,” says Scott Dalzell, Division Chief at Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services. “So, you know, a typical two- or three-story house, you're going to have one basement level, main floor, second floor, and so on.”
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These regulations also apply to apartments, condos, hotels, and retirement homes. It's not enough just to have a detector, though—you must ensure it works by testing it every month.
“Just like your smoke alarms, they come with a test button, so you just press the test button, and if you hear the beep, then it works,” Dalzell adds.
When purchasing a carbon monoxide detector, make sure it has a Canadian certification mark on it. This applies to your smoke detectors, too!
Six Canadian certification marks to look for when purchasing a new smoke or carbon monoxide detector. (Government of Canada)
Keep in mind, though, that also just like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors expire every seven to ten years and will need to be replaced.
And remember, if your detector ever does go off, leave your home immediately and call 911; your local fire service will come to assess the gas leak and help avoid a fatality.
Copyedited by Anika Beaudry, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.
Thumbnail image from Canva Pro.