What are the carbon monoxide detector requirements in Ontario?

In Ontario, carbon monoxide detectors are legally required in all homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages, and must be installed outside sleeping areas and on every level of the home.

Ontario's Carbon Monoxide Requirements

Under Ontario's Fire Protection and Prevention Act, CO detectors are mandatory if your Ottawa home has:

• Gas furnace, water heater, or other gas appliances


• Oil-burning equipment


• Wood-burning fireplace or stove


• Attached garage (car exhaust risk)


• Fuel-burning generator

Installation Requirements

You must install CO detectors outside all sleeping areas and on every level of your home. For a typical Ottawa two-story home, this means at least one detector in the hallway near bedrooms upstairs and one on the main floor. If you have a basement with fuel-burning equipment, you need one there too.

The detectors must be hardwired with battery backup in new construction or major renovations requiring building permits through the City of Ottawa. In existing homes, battery-operated or plug-in units are acceptable, but hardwired is recommended for reliability.

Ottawa Building Code Compliance

When renovating in Ottawa and pulling permits through ottawa.ca/building, your contractor must ensure CO detector installation meets current Ontario Building Code requirements. The City of Ottawa Building Code Services (613-580-2424) can confirm specific requirements for your project.

For electrical work to install hardwired detectors, your contractor needs an ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) permit. You can verify their electrical license at esasafe.com/contractor-locator. Gas appliance installations requiring TSSA certification may also trigger CO detector upgrade requirements.

What to Watch For

Red flags include contractors who don't mention CO detector requirements when installing gas appliances or doing electrical work near sleeping areas. Any legitimate contractor working on fuel-burning systems should automatically discuss CO safety.

Don't accept "it's not required because it's old construction" - Ontario law applies to ALL homes with fuel-burning equipment, regardless of age. The requirement has been in effect since 2014.

Official Resources

• Ontario Fire Marshal: ontario.ca/carbonmonoxide
• City of Ottawa Fire Services: 613-580-2857
• ESA electrical permit requirements: esasafe.com
• TSSA gas appliance safety: tssa.org

Remember, this isn't just about meeting legal requirements - carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Proper detector placement and maintenance protects your Ottawa family year-round, especially during our cold winters when heating systems run constantly.