Smoke and CO alarms: a landlord's checklist

What landlords must do

• Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with the Ontario Fire Code.
• Keep the alarms in operating condition.
• Maintain the primary and secondary power supplies that serve them.
• Give the tenant a copy of the manufacturer's maintenance instructions.

What tenants must do

• Not disable an alarm.
• Tell the landlord as soon as they know an alarm is disconnected, not working or impaired.
• If a landlord does not provide working alarms, a Toronto tenant can call 311 for a referral to Toronto Fire Services, and a fire inspector will attend.

Smoke alarms: where and which type

• Have a working alarm on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas; depending on the home's age, alarms may also be inside each bedroom.
• Replace an alarm with the same type: battery, electrically connected, or both.
• Ceiling placement is recommended. Avoid ceilings near bathrooms, heating appliances, windows and ceiling fans, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

CO alarms: when and where

• House: if it has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage, a working CO alarm is required next to each sleeping area and, since January 1, 2026, on every storey.
• Apartment or condo unit: required next to each sleeping area and on every storey if the unit has a fuel-burning appliance or fireplace; is directly above, below or beside a service room or garage; or is heated by air from a fuel-burning appliance outside the unit.

Upkeep and penalties

• Test smoke alarms monthly with the test button.
• If an alarm gives a low-battery warning, replace the battery at once. Regular batteries are best changed twice a year, when the clocks change; some new alarms have a sealed 10-year battery.
• Replace smoke alarms more than 10 years old.
• Gently vacuum smoke alarms with a soft brush every six months. Shut off the power first on electrically connected alarms, and test each unit afterwards.
• The City of Toronto lists these penalties under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act: $50,000 and/or one year in jail for an individual, and $500,000 for a corporation.

How-to videos (YouTube, English)

• Understanding Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors | Ask This Old House — This Old House · 6:52
• How To Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors — Lowe's Home Improvement · 2:14
• How to Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors | Ask This Old House — This Old House · 7:24

Videos open on YouTube. Where a video differs from the City of Toronto guidance above, follow the City guidance, and never use an open flame.

This guide follows City of Toronto Fire Services advice. Other municipalities have their own contacts; your local fire department can answer questions about your building.

Home maintenance · Maintenance video library · Record repairs in the repair log

Official sources

• City of Toronto: Smoke Alarms
• City of Toronto: Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Rules last checked against these sources on 2026-11-02.