Why do I need a Fire Safety Plan in Ontario?

If you own or manage a building with a fire alarm system in Ontario, you are legally required to have an approved Fire Safety Plan under the Ontario Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07), Section 2.8. This applies to apartment and condo buildings, commercial offices, retail, restaurants, and warehouses across Toronto, Mississauga, Markham, Vaughan, and Etobicoke. Without an approved plan on site, you risk fire department orders, fines, and delays getting occupancy.

Which buildings actually need a Fire Safety Plan?

The Ontario Fire Code requires a Fire Safety Plan for most buildings with a fire alarm system, plus all assembly occupancies such as restaurants and banquet halls, care occupancies such as retirement and long term care homes, high buildings, and many industrial and storage occupancies. If you are not sure where your building in the GTA falls, send us the details and we will confirm in plain language, at no cost.

What is changing with Ontario fire safety requirements in 2026?

Ontario updates the Fire Code on a regular cycle, and recent changes, including O. Reg. 87/25, mean a plan that was approved a few years ago may no longer meet current requirements. Enforcement is tightening across the GTA at the same time. We review your existing Fire Safety Plan against the current Ontario Fire Code, flag anything out of date, and bring it back into compliance before it becomes a problem with the fire department.

How long does it take to get a Fire Safety Plan approved?

It depends on the size and complexity of your building and your local fire department's review queue, but we are built for speed. Because we know exactly what Toronto Fire Services, Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services, and the other GTA departments look for, our submissions rarely come back for corrections. That is what saves you the weeks of back and forth most owners run into.

Do I need a Fire Safety Plan for a construction or demolition project?

Yes. The Ontario Fire Code (Part 5) requires fire safety measures and a plan for construction and demolition sites before and during the work. We create site specific plans covering fire crew access, hot work controls, standpipe provisions, and muster points for projects across Toronto, Etobicoke, Vaughan, and the wider GTA.

How often do I need to review my Fire Safety Plan?

The Ontario Fire Code requires your plan to be reviewed at least once every 12 months, and updated right away whenever you renovate, change the building's use, or change the layout. We offer annual review packages for property managers and condo boards across the GTA, so your plans never lapse and you are not scrambling the week before an inspection.

We are applying for an AGCO liquor licence. What fire requirements apply?

Before the AGCO issues a liquor licence, your municipality has to confirm your space is safe, and fire approval is a core part of that sign off. For restaurants and bars in Toronto, Mississauga, Markham, and across the GTA, that usually means an approved Fire Safety Plan, a posted occupant load, clear exiting, and confirmation your fire alarm and suppression systems are in good standing. We prepare the documents and handle the fire side so your licence is not held up.

I manage multiple buildings. Can you handle a whole portfolio?

Yes, this is a big part of what we do. Property managers carry fire safety responsibility across a portfolio, where every building has its own plan, its own annual review date, and its own fire department jurisdiction. We standardize your plans, track every review date, and give you one point of contact for all of your sites across Toronto and the GTA, so nothing slips through the cracks.

What areas do you serve?

We are based in the Greater Toronto Area and serve building owners and managers across Toronto (Downtown, North York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke), Peel (Mississauga and Brampton), York Region (Markham, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill), and the wider GTA and Southern Ontario.

What is included in your Fire Safety Plan package?

Our Ontario Fire Safety Plan package is built to meet the Ontario Fire Code and your local fire department's requirements. You receive: an on site audit of your fire alarm, sprinkler, extinguisher, and exit systems; a custom site specific plan written to current Ontario Fire Code standards, never a generic template; clear building diagrams showing exits, equipment, and shut offs; full fire department submission and communication with the Chief Fire Official until it is approved; and digital and printed copies of the approved plan for your fire safety plan box and your records.

What is the process for getting a Fire Safety Plan?

We keep it simple, four steps. First, a site visit to map your fire safety equipment and any hazards. Second, drafting, where our team writes the plan and prepares the diagrams. Third, submission to your local fire department's plan review. Fourth, approval and delivery, where once it is approved we deliver the official plan ready to post on site. Call us to get started.

Does a Rooming House Need a Fire Safety Plan in Toronto?

5 days ago

6 min read

If you own or operate a rooming house in Toronto, one of the most important questions to answer is whether your property requires an approved Fire Safety Plan.

In many cases, the answer is yes.

Toronto now generally refers to rooming houses as multi-tenant houses, and these properties are subject to specific licensing, Building Code and Ontario Fire Code requirements.

For owners, the process can become confusing quickly — especially when a house has been converted from a traditional single-family home into a property with several separately rented bedrooms.

This guide explains when a Fire Safety Plan is required, what Toronto Fire Services looks for, and what happens after your plan is submitted.

When Does a Toronto Rooming House Need a Fire Safety Plan?

Under current Toronto guidance, a Fire Safety Plan is required for a rooming house with more than four occupants.

A Fire Safety Plan is also required for certain other residential occupancies where the occupant load exceeds 10 people.

If your property meets these criteria, the Fire Safety Plan must be submitted to Toronto Fire Services for review and approval.

This means that many Toronto multi-tenant houses cannot simply operate like ordinary residential rental properties.

The number of occupants and the way the building is used can significantly change the fire safety requirements that apply.

What Is Considered a Multi-Tenant House in Toronto?

The City of Toronto generally defines a multi-tenant house as a property containing four or more rooms rented to separate people who do not live together as one housekeeping unit.

These properties were traditionally referred to as:

Rooming houses
Boarding houses
Lodging houses
Multi-room rentals
Shared accommodation properties

The terminology has changed, but the underlying fire safety concerns remain the same.

When multiple unrelated occupants are sleeping in separate rooms, the building must provide appropriate protection so occupants can safely escape during a fire.

Why Does a Rooming House Need a Fire Safety Plan?

A Fire Safety Plan is intended to establish exactly how fire safety will be managed at the property.

Unlike a general emergency plan downloaded from the internet, a proper Fire Safety Plan is specific to the building.

It considers factors such as:

Number of occupants
Number of sleeping rooms
Building layout
Basement occupancy
Exit routes
Smoke alarms
Carbon monoxide alarms
Fire alarm systems
Fire extinguishers
Emergency lighting
Exit signs
Fire separations
Utility shut-offs
Fire department access

The plan also establishes procedures for occupants and anyone responsible for operating the property.

What Is Included in a Rooming House Fire Safety Plan?

A professionally prepared Fire Safety Plan will typically contain several important sections.

Emergency Procedures

The plan explains what occupants should do when they discover a fire or hear an alarm.

This can include instructions to:

Leave the building immediately
Close doors behind them
Call 911 from a safe location
Proceed to the designated meeting area
Never re-enter the building until permitted by emergency personnel

Responsibilities of the Owner or Operator

The person responsible for the building may have specific duties relating to:

Maintaining fire safety equipment
Keeping exits clear
Correcting identified hazards
Maintaining required records
Arranging inspections and testing
Reviewing the Fire Safety Plan
Ensuring occupants understand emergency procedures

Building Information

The plan documents important information about the property, including:

Building construction
Number of storeys
Number of rooms
Number of occupants
Basement use
Heating equipment
Electrical service
Fire protection systems

Fire Protection Equipment

The plan identifies the fire and life safety equipment installed in the property.

Depending on the building, this may include:

Smoke alarms
Carbon monoxide alarms
Fire extinguishers
Fire alarm equipment
Emergency lighting
Exit signs
Sprinkler systems

Fire Hazard Controls

A rooming house Fire Safety Plan should also address common hazards such as:

Combustible storage
Blocked exit routes
Improper electrical equipment
Cooking hazards
Portable heaters
Smoking materials
Laundry equipment
Furnace and mechanical rooms

Do You Need Floor Plans?

Yes, drawings are an important part of the process.

Toronto’s multi-tenant house licensing requirements include a floor plan, and the City requires information such as room dimensions and maximum permitted tenants for each room.

A Fire Safety Plan will also normally contain building drawings showing important fire and life safety information.

These drawings may identify:

Sleeping rooms
Exits
Stairways
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguishers
Fire alarm devices
Emergency lighting
Utility shut-offs
Mechanical rooms
Fire department access

Accurate drawings make it easier for Toronto Fire Services to understand the building and verify the information contained in the plan.

What Happens After the Fire Safety Plan Is Submitted?

Submitting the plan is not necessarily the end of the process.

Toronto Fire Services reviews the Fire Safety Plan.

Once the plan has been reviewed and approved, Toronto Fire Services may attend the property to conduct an inspection.

The inspection is used to confirm that:

The information in the Fire Safety Plan is accurate
Required fire protection equipment is present
Exit routes are acceptable
Fire safety measures described in the plan have actually been implemented
The building complies with applicable Ontario Fire Code requirements

Toronto’s guidance also identifies the requirement for installation of a Fire Safety Plan Box as part of the process.

What Happens If Toronto Fire Finds Deficiencies?

An approved document does not automatically mean that every part of the building is compliant.

If Toronto Fire Services identifies deficiencies during the inspection, the property owner may be required to correct them.

Common issues in older or converted residential properties can include:

Missing or Improper Smoke Alarms

Rooming houses can have different smoke alarm requirements than ordinary single-family homes.

Alarm location, power supply, interconnection and building configuration all need to be considered.

Improper Fire Separations

Walls, ceilings and doors can form part of the fire separation between different parts of the building.

Renovations, openings or improperly installed doors can compromise these separations.

Basement Sleeping Rooms

Basement bedrooms deserve particular attention.

Issues may include:

Exit arrangements
Window configuration
Smoke alarms
Fire separations
Ceiling construction
Access to exits

Blocked Exit Routes

Hallways, stairs and exits must remain usable.

Storage, furniture, locks or renovations should not interfere with an occupant’s ability to escape during an emergency.

Missing Emergency Lighting or Exit Signs

Depending on the building and its configuration, additional emergency lighting or exit signage may be required.

Do I Need a Building Permit for a Rooming House?

Fire Code compliance is only one part of operating a multi-tenant property.

Toronto advises that a building permit is required when changing a single dwelling unit house to a multi-dwelling unit house, even where no construction is proposed.

This is important because simply purchasing a property that already contains several bedrooms does not necessarily mean that the existing configuration was legally established.

Rooming house owners may therefore need to consider:

Zoning
Building permits
Ontario Building Code requirements
Ontario Fire Code requirements
Multi-tenant house licensing

What Do I Need for a Toronto Multi-Tenant House Licence?

Toronto requires multi-tenant house operators to provide several documents as part of the licensing process.

Depending on the property, these can include:

Zoning approval
Fire Safety Plan Approval Letter
Property plan
Floor plan
Waste management plan
Pest management plan
Indoor and outdoor property management plan

For a new operator with more than four tenants, the Fire Safety Plan Approval Letter forms an important part of the licensing application.

This is why dealing with the Fire Safety Plan early can help prevent delays later in the licensing process.

I Bought a Rooming House — Is the Existing Fire Safety Plan Still Valid?

Do not automatically assume it is.

A Fire Safety Plan should reflect the current building, occupancy, fire protection systems and operating conditions.

Changes that may require the plan to be reviewed or updated include:

New ownership
Increased occupancy
Additional bedrooms
Basement renovations
Changes to exits
New fire protection equipment
Building renovations
Changes in room layouts

Toronto specifically requires existing operators to provide updated Fire Safety Plan approval documentation where occupancy has changed.

If you are buying an existing rooming house, reviewing the current Fire Safety Plan should be part of your due diligence.

How Sterling Safety Can Help

Sterling Safety prepares Fire Safety Plans for rooming houses and multi-tenant residential properties throughout Toronto and the GTA.

Our service can include:

Property assessment
Review of the building layout
Fire Safety Plan preparation
Floor plan and schematic preparation
Identification of fire and life safety equipment
Emergency procedures
Owner and occupant responsibilities
Fire hazard control procedures
Fire protection system information
Toronto Fire Services submission support
Revisions requested during the review process

We can also help owners understand potential fire safety issues identified during the assessment before the plan is submitted.

Buying or Converting a Property Into a Rooming House?

It is much easier to identify potential issues before submitting your licence application or waiting for a fire inspection.

If you are:

Buying an existing rooming house
Converting a residential property
Adding rental bedrooms
Renting rooms individually
Applying for a Toronto multi-tenant house licence
Updating an old Fire Safety Plan
Responding to a request from Toronto Fire Services

Sterling Safety can review the property and help determine the next steps.

Need a Rooming House Fire Safety Plan in Toronto?

If your multi-tenant house has more than four occupants, a Fire Safety Plan may be required as part of your Toronto licensing and fire safety compliance process.

Sterling Safety provides rooming house Fire Safety Plans, floor plans, fire safety assessments and submission support throughout Toronto and the GTA.

Request a quote today and send us the property address, number of rental rooms and approximate number of occupants.

We can review the information and advise you on the next steps.

Does a Rooming House Need a Fire Safety Plan in Toronto?

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