Does my Ottawa landlord have to provide carbon monoxide detectors near the gas fireplace under Ontario tenant safety law?

Yes, your landlord is legally required to provide working carbon monoxide detectors in your rental unit if it contains a fuel-burning appliance like a gas fireplace — this is not optional under Ontario law. The Carbon Monoxide Detector Act and the Ontario Fire Code together require that CO detectors be installed on every storey of a dwelling unit that contains a fuel-burning appliance or is adjacent to a room containing one, and outside every sleeping area.

This matters especially in Ottawa rental housing because gas fireplaces are common supplemental heat sources in the region, and the city's long heating season — often running from October through April — means these appliances are in regular use for six months or more each year. A gas fireplace that develops a cracked heat exchanger, a blocked flue, or an incomplete combustion issue during a -25 degree January night can produce lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide within hours. CO is colourless and odourless, which means without a functioning detector, you would have no warning at all.

Your landlord's specific obligations under Ontario law are clear. They must install CO detectors in the required locations before you occupy the unit, maintain them in working order throughout your tenancy, and test them. As a tenant, you are responsible for not removing or disabling the detectors and for notifying your landlord promptly if a detector malfunctions, has a low battery, or is damaged. Landlords who fail to provide CO detectors can face fines under the Ontario Fire Code — inspectors from Ottawa Fire Services have the authority to enforce these requirements.

If your unit has a gas fireplace and no CO detector, your first step is to notify your landlord in writing — email works well because it creates a record — and request that detectors be installed immediately. If your landlord does not respond or refuses, you can file a complaint with Ottawa Fire Services or contact the Landlord and Tenant Board. Keep copies of all communications.

One practical note: even if your landlord provides a CO detector, make sure it is positioned correctly. Detectors should be installed at breathing height — roughly one to five feet from the floor — and within a reasonable proximity to sleeping areas. A detector mounted on the ceiling directly above the gas fireplace is not an adequate substitute for one outside your bedroom door. If you are uncertain whether the placement in your unit meets the Ontario Fire Code requirements, Ottawa Fire Services can advise you.

The annual servicing of the gas fireplace itself is also your landlord's responsibility to arrange — a TSSA-licensed gas fitter should inspect and service the appliance every year to ensure it is burning cleanly and venting properly. A neglected gas fireplace is one of the most common sources of CO exposure in residential settings, and Ottawa's cold winters mean these units work hard for many months each year.