Smoke & CO Detector Laws in British Columbia

British Columbia smoke & CO detector laws

BC Fire Safety Act + Fire Safety Regulation; BC Building Code 2024

Buildings covered: Residential, care, business/personal services, mercantile, and assembly occupancies served by or containing a fuel-burning appliance or storage garage.

Where to install: Inside each bedroom, or outside each bedroom within 5 m of each bedroom door (measured along corridors/doorways). Additional alarms in suites sharing a wall/floor-ceiling assembly with a service room or storage garage, and in the service room itself.

Power / type: CSA 6.19; hardwired without disconnect switch, battery, or plug-in; must be mechanically fixed at manufacturer’s recommended height. In houses with a secondary suite, CO alarms must be interconnected.

Standard: CSA 6.19 Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices.

Maintenance: Must be maintained in operating condition per manufacturer’s instructions; tampering or disabling is prohibited.

Penalties: Administrative penalties up to $25,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations per contravention under the Fire Safety Regulation.

Notes: BC Building Code 2024 adopts NBC 2020 with BC amendments and came into force March 8, 2024.

View official British Columbia source