Landlords are legally required under the Ontario Fire Code for keeping their rental home and tenants fire safe, whether it is on a short-term or long-term basis.

Landlords renting any or all parts of their home must meet all safety requirements in the Fire Code. They should also contact the local fire service to determine how these regulations apply to their rental property.

Landlord responsibilities

Landlords and property owners are responsible for fire safety in a building. This includes building management and maintenance staff.

Building safety

Every building has a different fire safety requirement depending on its type of property, such as:

  • single-family homes
  • houses with a second suite or basement apartment
  • apartment buildings with more than 2 dwelling units
  • boarding, lodging and rooming houses

Buildings must follow local zoning laws and the Ontario Building Code standards from the year they were built. These buildings must be maintained or upgraded to meet the Ontario Fire Code.

Landlords must install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas of the home.

Landlords must install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas of the home if the home contains a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace, an attached garage, or is served by a forced-air fuel burning appliance not contained within the building.

Fuel-burning appliances include:

  • furnaces and hot water heaters
  • gas or wood fireplaces
  • stoves and barbecues
  • portable fuel-burning heaters and generators. Never use these appliances indoors, including inside garages.
  • vehicles

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Landlords are legally responsible for:

  • ensuring working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are installed in locations according to the Fire Code and maintained in their rental properties
  • testing smoke alarms using the test button in rental units when:
    • the battery is replaced annually or when the low-battery warning sounds
    • changes are made to the electric circuit
    • a change in tenancy occurs
  • providing smoke and CO alarm manufacturer’s maintenance instructions to tenants
  • replacing alarms in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or when the “end-of-life” warning sounds

Owner responsibilities

The owner of a condominium unit is responsible for installing and maintaining smoke and CO alarms. In some buildings, the condominium corporation may assume this responsibility through an agreement with the owner.

Smoke and CO (where applicable) alarms must be installed on every storey of the home and adjacent to every sleeping area.

This generally means the hallway or area immediately outside the bedrooms.

If a hallway serves multiple bedrooms, 1 alarm in that hallway is sufficient. In some layouts, this may mean placing the alarm within the sleeping area itself to ensure it can be heard.

Tenants

  • Tenants are required by law to notify the landlord if the smoke or CO alarm is inoperable.
  • It is against the law for tenants to remove the batteries or tamper with smoke and CO alarms in any way.
  • Any person found disabling an alarm is guilty of a provincial offence and may receive a ticket for $360 or be fined up to $50,000.
  • Tenants play a vital role in fire safety by ensuring alarms remain functional and by cooperating with landlords during required testing and maintenance.

Electrical issues: any electrical problems may prevent a wired smoke or CO alarm from working. Ensure a working battery is installed in the alarm as a back-up power source.

Apartments and condominiums considered as hotels

In multi-unit buildings, the following rules apply:

  • Units with appliances: any suite containing a fuel-burning appliance must have a CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area and on each storey if the suite contains multiple storeys.
  • Service rooms: if a building has a service room with a fuel-burning appliance, a CO alarm must be installed in the service room and in every suite located above, below, or beside it.
  • Garages: if a building has a parking garage, CO alarms must be installed adjacent to each sleeping area in every suite located above, below, or beside the garage.
  • Public corridors: if a forced-air fuel-burning appliance provides heated air to the building, the Fire Code requires CO alarms be installed in each portion of a divided public corridor. For undivided public corridors, CO alarms must be installed such that they are spaced not more than 25 metres apart.

Short-term home rentals

Many people rent homes or apartments for vacations. These rentals are not regulated like hotels and motels.

Property owners are considered a landlord whether the rental is a room, a suite, or an entire home. This role includes significant legal responsibilities as defined by the Fire Code.

Under the Fire Code, property owners are responsible for ensuring all smoke and CO alarms are appropriately installed and functional with test and maintenance records properly documented. Maintaining these devices is a legal requirement for all short-term and long-term rentals.

General safety recommendations

Practice home safety in rentals just like you do at home. Make sure:

  • everyone knows the address of the rental
  • there are working smoke and CO (if applicable) alarms outside each sleeping area and on every storey of the rental
  • everyone knows 2 ways out of every room, if possible, and out of the rental if there is an emergency
  • all doors and windows that lead outside can be easily opened
  • you choose an outside meeting place a safe distance from the rental where everyone can meet and be accounted for in the event of a fire

Mandatory testing schedule

Smoke and CO alarm testing must occur at the following intervals:

  • Annually: at least once every 12 months.
  • Between tenancies: after every change in occupancy, regardless of the length of stay.
  • Battery replacement: test battery-operated smoke and CO alarms after the battery is replaced.
  • Changes to electrical circuit: test smoke and CO alarms connected to an electrical circuit after any change is made to the electrical circuit.

Documentation and record-keeping

The Fire Code requires written proof of all alarm maintenance. Detailed records ensure accountability and safety.

  • Record entry: a written log must be updated immediately after testing to confirm all alarms are working before a new tenancy begins.
  • Retention period: all testing and maintenance records must be kept for at least 22 years.
  • Fire department access: records must be available for review upon request by the fire department.

Other considerations

Construction and renovations

  • Before starting construction or renovations for home sharing, contact the local building department to determine requirements under the Ontario Building Code.
  • Local municipalities may have specific rules for licensing, zoning, or safety regarding short-term rentals. Contact them directly for more information.

Apartments and condominiums considered as hotels

  • Building management or condominium boards should be consulted before a unit is used as a rental.
  • Building management, condo boards, and landlords must understand the Fire Code. Multiple rental units in 1 building may cause the property—or part of it—to be classified as a hotel if it provides accommodation for travellers or recreational purposes.
  • The local fire department can provide help with applying Fire Code requirements to specific buildings.