March 1, 2006 -- As of March 1, 2006, every home in Ontario is required to have working smoke alarms on every storey or level, including basements.

According to information from the Ontario Fire Marshal and as drafted in the Ontario Fire Code, "a smoke alarm is required to be installed between each sleeping area and the remainder of the dwelling unit. Where the sleeping areas are served by hallways, the smoke alarms must be installed in the hallways."

In addition, at least one smoke alarm is required to be installed on each storey that does not contain a sleeping area.

Non-compliance with the Ontario Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $20,000 for homeowners, tenants and individual landlords, and up to $50,000 for corporations.