Fire Protection for Ontario Hotels and Short-Term Rentals: What Owners and Hosts Must Know in 2026

Ontario's hospitality landscape looks very different than it did a decade ago. Alongside traditional hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts, a large and growing segment of the market now operates through short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — private homes, condos, cottages, and investment properties rented out to guests for days or weeks at a time.

What many operators in both categories don't realize is that the Ontario Fire Code treats them similarly — and that the compliance obligations for anyone hosting overnight guests are more demanding than for a standard residential or commercial property. In 2026, with updated Fire Code amendments now in effect and municipalities across Ontario intensifying STR enforcement, understanding your fire protection obligations is not optional. It is a legal requirement with real financial and legal consequences for those who get it wrong.

This guide covers what Ontario hotel operators and short-term rental hosts need to know about fire protection compliance in 2026 — what the law requires, where the common gaps are, and what a compliant fire safety program looks like for your property.

Hotels and Short-Term Rentals Under the Ontario Fire Code

The Ontario Fire Code classifies occupancies by how they are used, not just how they are zoned or registered. Under the Fire Code, a building that provides sleeping accommodation to the public — including a private home, condo unit, or cottage rented through Airbnb — is classified as a Group C occupancy (residential) or in some cases treated with the same requirements as a hotel or motel depending on the number of guests and the configuration of the property.

Here is the critical point that catches many short-term rental hosts off guard: a building containing short-term rentals is considered a "hotel" under the Ontario Fire Code when the occupancy pattern and guest turnover resemble transient accommodation. This classification triggers requirements that go well beyond what a standard homeowner or landlord must meet — including posted fire safety plans, emergency procedures visible to guests, and in some configurations, fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, exit signs, and fire separations.

The threshold that triggers the most significant requirements is 10 or more persons sleeping in a property. Properties that regularly accommodate 11 or more guests may be required to install fire alarm systems, secondary exits, emergency lighting, exit signs, and rated fire separations. If your property operates as a large-group rental or sleep-away accommodation, a formal fire code review is essential before you continue hosting.

What the 2026 Ontario Fire Code Changes Mean for Hospitality Operators

The January 2026 amendments under Ontario Regulation 87/25 introduced several changes that directly affect hotel and STR operators:

Enhanced documentation requirements

System documentation must be clearly identified and physically available at the time of inspection. For hotels with fire alarm systems, sprinklers, and emergency lighting, this means all inspection records must be on-site and current. An inspector who cannot find your records will treat the systems as uninspected.

Updated fire alarm inspection standards

Annual fire alarm inspections must now comply with CAN/ULC-S536:2019, replacing the older 2004 edition. This is one of the most significant changes to fire alarm compliance in two decades. Expect inspections to take 20 to 35 percent longer, with more rigorous device-by-device testing and stricter reporting requirements.

Expanded CO alarm requirements

The 2026 amendments expanded carbon monoxide alarm requirements in residential and care buildings served by fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. For STR hosts and hotel operators, this means reviewing whether your property has adequate CO detection in place and whether it meets the new placement and interconnection standards.

Administrative Monetary Penalties

Municipalities across Ontario can now issue AMPs on the spot for Fire Code violations — no court process required. For STR operators who have been operating without proper fire safety documentation, 2026 is the year enforcement is catching up to the reality of the market.

Fire Protection Requirements for Ontario Hotels and Motels

Traditional hotel and motel operators in Ontario are subject to the full suite of Fire Code requirements applicable to Group C occupancies used as public accommodation. A compliant fire protection program for a hotel includes:

Fire Alarm System

Hotels above the threshold size require a fire alarm system installed and maintained in accordance with the Ontario Fire Code and CAN/ULC standards. Annual inspection and testing must now comply with CAN/ULC-S536:2019, and all records must be retained on site. For multi-storey properties, voice communication systems and integrated alarm features add further complexity to the inspection program.

Sprinkler System

Hotels above certain floor area thresholds require automatic sprinkler systems. Where installed, sprinklers must be inspected and maintained in accordance with NFPA 25, with monthly control valve checks, quarterly waterflow alarm tests, and a full annual inspection by a TSSA-authorized contractor. Any change to the building configuration or occupancy load requires a review of the sprinkler system design.

Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs

Every hotel must maintain functional emergency lighting throughout all corridors, stairwells, and egress paths, as well as illuminated exit signs at all required locations. Monthly function tests and annual full-duration tests are required under the Ontario Fire Code, and both must be documented. This is one of the most commonly missed compliance items during hotel fire inspections.

Fire Extinguishers

Portable fire extinguishers must be properly rated, placed, and maintained throughout the property. Monthly visual inspections must be documented. Annual service by a certified technician is required. Extinguishers in kitchen areas must be appropriate for the hazard class present.

Fire Safety Plan

Every hotel must have a current, site-specific Fire Safety Plan that has been reviewed and is available on site at all times. The plan must address emergency procedures, staff roles during a fire emergency, the location of fire protection systems and equipment, and the procedures for evacuating guests — including guests with disabilities. The plan must be posted at designated locations throughout the building so that guests can access it.

Fire Doors and Separations

Guest room doors, stairwell doors, and any doors in rated fire separations must be inspected and maintained to ensure closers, latches, seals, and hardware are functioning correctly. Under the 2026 amendments, fire door compliance is subject to closer scrutiny during inspections.

Fire Protection Requirements for Short-Term Rental Operators

The requirements for a private Airbnb or VRBO host depend significantly on the property type, the number of guests accommodated, and the municipality in which the property is located. Here is the baseline that applies across Ontario:

Smoke Alarms

The Ontario Fire Code requires working smoke alarms on every storey of a dwelling and outside every sleeping area. For short-term rentals, this means the smoke alarms must be in place, functional, and tested before every guest stay. Battery-operated alarms must have fresh batteries. Interconnected alarms — where one triggers all — are strongly recommended and in some configurations required.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

CO alarms are required in any dwelling that has a fuel-burning appliance (gas furnace, gas fireplace, gas stove) or an attached garage. Under the 2026 amendments, expanded CO alarm requirements now apply to more building types. For STR hosts, this means ensuring CO alarms are installed outside sleeping areas and on every storey of the dwelling. CO alarms have a service life — typically seven to ten years — and must be replaced when they expire.

Fire Escape Plan

Every short-term rental listing must include a clearly posted fire escape plan that guests can see during their stay. This is not a suggestion — it is a legal requirement under Ontario Fire Code and a condition of registration in most Ontario municipalities. The plan must show the layout of the property, the location of exits, and the procedures guests should follow in the event of a fire.

Fire Extinguisher

While not always mandated by the Fire Code for every single-family STR, a functional fire extinguisher — correctly rated and within its service date — is a condition of registration in many Ontario municipalities and is strongly recommended for all STR properties. It is also a material factor in insurance coverage for short-term rentals.

Municipal Registration and Fire Safety Compliance

Ontario municipalities now universally require STR hosts to register or obtain a licence before operating. In Toronto, hosts must register with the City, display their registration number on all listings, and comply with fire and building code requirements as a condition of registration. Similar requirements apply in Ottawa, Waterloo, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and municipalities across the province. Fines for operating without a valid registration in Toronto can exceed $100,000 for corporations.

As part of the registration and renewal process, municipalities increasingly inspect or require documentation of fire safety compliance. Hosts who cannot demonstrate that their property meets fire code requirements can have their registration denied or revoked.

The Condo Short-Term Rental Situation

Short-term rentals operating within condominium buildings create a specific compliance challenge that is worth addressing directly. Where a condo building permits short-term rentals — whether through its governing documents or in practice — the building is treated as providing hotel-like accommodation under the Ontario Fire Code. This triggers additional requirements for the condo corporation, including posted fire safety plans and fire emergency procedures at designated locations throughout the building.

Condo corporations that have short-term rentals operating in their building and are not meeting these requirements are in violation of the Ontario Fire Code. The corporation and its directors can face penalties. If you are a condo board or property manager dealing with short-term rentals in your building, a fire safety compliance review is a priority item in 2026.

Insurance: The Risk Most STR Hosts Overlook

Standard homeowner insurance policies explicitly exclude commercial rental activities. If a guest causes a fire and your insurer discovers you were operating an unlicensed short-term rental without proper fire safety measures in place, the claim will be denied. Specialized short-term rental insurance with a minimum of $2 million in liability coverage is the standard requirement in Ontario municipalities — and the only coverage that will respond in the event of a fire involving guests.

The connection between fire code compliance and insurance is direct: insurers assess risk, and a property that cannot demonstrate a compliant fire safety program represents an elevated risk. Missed inspections, expired equipment, and absent records are all factors that influence both coverage eligibility and claims outcomes.

Building a Compliant Fire Safety Program

Whether you operate a 60-room hotel or a two-bedroom Airbnb, a compliant fire safety program comes down to the same fundamentals: the right equipment installed and maintained, inspections completed on schedule, documentation kept current and on site, and guests who know what to do in an emergency.

For hotel operators, that means a structured annual inspection calendar covering fire alarms, sprinklers, emergency lighting, extinguishers, and fire doors — all documented and available for inspection by fire prevention officers.

For short-term rental hosts, it means functional smoke and CO alarms, a posted fire escape plan, a suitable fire extinguisher, and a valid municipal registration — and staying current with local bylaw changes as municipalities continue to tighten STR oversight.

How First National Fire Protection Serves Ontario Hospitality Operators

At First National Fire Protection, our CFAA-certified, TSSA-authorized technicians work with hotel operators, boutique accommodations, and property managers across the GTA and Ontario to keep fire protection systems inspected, tested, and documented on schedule. We also work with STR hosts and property management companies to assess compliance gaps and bring properties up to Fire Code standard.

We handle fire alarm testing to CAN/ULC-S536:2019, sprinkler inspections under NFPA 25, emergency lighting testing, fire extinguisher service, and fire safety plan development — all with the documentation your municipality and insurer require.