‘It’s a preventable tragedy’: New carbon monoxide detector laws coming into effect in 2026

New laws for carbon monoxide detectors are coming in 2026. Here’s what you need to know. Chris Campbell reports.

It’s colourless, odourless and it can be deadly in minutes.

“The number of times where the caller calls 911 and says, ‘I’ve not been feeling too good for a few days’ and then they go in the fresh air and feel a lot better and then we come in and find that there is carbon monoxide in the home,” said Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Chief Chris Case.

Case says approximately 50 people on average die from carbon monoxide poisoning in Canada each year.

Now, the province is expanding the fire code to better protect residents against carbon monoxide poisoning.

“People don’t really know the silent killer is going through their homes,” said Case. “And so sometimes it’s too late.”

Starting in 2026, nearly every type of home - houses, rental units, condos, and apartments - must have alarms if there’s any potential source, including furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, or an attached garage.

Alarms will be required on every storey and beside all sleeping areas.

“If you’re up in your bedrooms late at night, then all of a sudden you have something going on with your furnace in the basement. They want that early detection,” said Jamie Waffle.

For multi-unit buildings, alarms will also be mandatory in units located beside or above service rooms or garages, and even in some common corridors.

“You’ve got to have a carbon monoxide alarm on every floor of your house. That’s going to give you that extra level of protection so that as soon as the carbon monoxide is detected, you’re alerted, you’re not waiting for it to get up to where you’re sleeping,” said Case.

Homeowners must make sure alarms are installed and working.

Landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining alarms in rental units, and tenants must report any issues.

“Your landlord should be coming to you and saying, ‘We’re making these changes to be compliant with the fire code,’ and you know, that’s especially important when you’ve got apartments, multi block apartments, high rises that, you know, every one of these apartments should be getting serviced by carbon monoxide alarm,” said Case.

Fire officials say now is the time to check your alarms, replace expired units, and plan ahead because failure to comply could lead to fines, and far more serious consequences.

“Prevention is always better than trying to get out the door because the alarms are going off,” said Case.

“For the cost of life safety, it’s a relatively small investment,” added Waffle.

The new rules come into effect the first day of the year, but fire departments say carbon monoxide doesn’t wait for a deadline.

“It’s a preventable tragedy,” said Case.