Municipality of Leamington Shares Updated CO Alarm Requirements Effective January 1, 2026

The Municipality of Leamington is advising residents of updated provincial requirements for carbon monoxide (CO) alarms that came into effect on January 1, 2026. These enhanced safety requirements expand existing rules and are intended to provide greater protection against carbon monoxide, a silent, colourless, and odourless gas that can be deadly.

Under Ontario’s updated regulations, carbon monoxide alarms are required in residential dwellings that contain fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages. The new rules mandate that alarms be installed on every level of a home and adjacent to each sleeping area, expanding on the previous requirement that focused primarily on areas near bedrooms.
These requirements apply to single-family homes, apartments, condominiums, and other residential buildings.

Where Carbon Monoxide Alarms Are Required (Effective January 1, 2026)

Carbon monoxide alarms must be installed:

• Adjacent to each sleeping area, such as in the hallway outside bedrooms, and
  • On every storey of the dwelling, including levels without sleeping areas, such as main floors and basements.

When Carbon Monoxide Alarms Are Required

A carbon monoxide alarm is required if a dwelling contains any of the following:

• Fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, water heaters, stoves, or portable heater,
• Fireplaces (wood-burning or gas),
• An attached garage, or
• Heated air supplied from a fuel-burning appliance located in a service room, which is common in apartment and condominium buildings.

Why the Requirements Have Been Updated

Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous because it is invisible and odourless. The expanded placement requirements are designed to improve early detection throughout the home, recognizing that carbon monoxide can originate from sources such as vehicles in attached garages or malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances, even on levels away from sleeping areas.

What Residents Should Do

The Municipality of Leamington encourages residents to:

• Install carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Test alarms regularly and replace them as recommended, typically every 10 years, and

• Never ignore a sounding carbon monoxide alarm. If an alarm sounds, residents should move to fresh air immediately and call 911.

For more information on carbon monoxide safety and alarm requirements, residents are encouraged to visit Ontario.ca/CarbonMonoxide or contact Leamington Fire Services at 519-326-6291.