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 We review your existing Fire Safety Plan against the current Ontario Fire Code, flag anything out of date, and bring it back into compliance before it becomes a problem with the fire department.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 My Building Need a Fire Safety Plan in Ontario? 2026 Requirements Explained

11 minutes ago

4 min read

If you own or manage a building in Ontario, you may be wondering:

Does my building actually need a Fire Safety Plan?

For many residential, commercial, industrial and assembly occupancies, the answer is yes. Whether a Fire Safety Plan is required depends on factors such as the type of occupancy, number of occupants, building height, hazards and how the building is used.

A Fire Safety Plan is not simply a generic emergency procedure. Where required, it must be specific to the building, approved and implemented.

Which Buildings Need a Fire Safety Plan in Ontario?

Common examples include:

Assembly occupancies, such as restaurants, bars and event spaces
Residential occupancies with more than 10 occupants
Rooming houses and certain multi-tenant houses
Large office occupancies
Large retail occupancies
Certain industrial and warehouse occupancies
Certain buildings with four or more storeys
Care, treatment and retirement occupancies

The requirements can also become more complicated in buildings with multiple occupancies, special hazards or several tenants.

If you are unsure, the building should be reviewed based on its actual use.

Do Apartment Buildings Need a Fire Safety Plan?

Many apartment buildings do.

A residential occupancy with an occupant load greater than 10 people falls within Ontario's Fire Safety Plan requirements.

The plan may address:

Emergency procedures
Evacuation
Fire alarm systems
Sprinkler systems
Fire extinguishers
Emergency lighting
Supervisory staff duties
Fire drills
Procedures during fire protection system shutdowns

The exact requirements depend on the building.

Do Rooming Houses Need a Fire Safety Plan?

Rooming houses require particular attention because several unrelated occupants may be sleeping in different areas of the building.

In Toronto, many multi-tenant houses with more than four tenants require a Fire Safety Plan as part of the licensing process.

A rooming house Fire Safety Plan may include:

Sleeping room locations
Exit routes
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Fire extinguishers
Emergency lighting
Fire separations
Fire alarm equipment
Owner and occupant emergency procedures

If a house has been converted into several individually rented bedrooms, owners should not assume ordinary single-family requirements still apply.

Do Restaurants and Bars Need a Fire Safety Plan?

Restaurants and bars are generally considered assembly occupancies.

These occupancies commonly require Fire Safety Plans.

A restaurant or bar plan may address:

Occupant load
Exit routes
Fire alarm equipment
Emergency lighting
Exit signs
Fire extinguishers
Commercial kitchen suppression systems
Staff emergency procedures
Fire drills
Cooking and combustible hazards

Owners opening a new restaurant or bar should address these requirements early rather than waiting for a fire inspection.

Do Warehouses Need a Fire Safety Plan?

Warehouses may require a Fire Safety Plan depending on their industrial classification, occupant load and building hazards.

Other conditions can also affect the requirements, including:

Rack storage
High-piled storage
Flammable liquids
Welding
Battery charging
Propane equipment
Sprinkler systems
Fire alarm systems
Multiple occupancies

A warehouse should therefore be reviewed as a whole rather than relying only on the number of employees.

What Must Be Included in a Fire Safety Plan?

A Fire Safety Plan normally includes much more than evacuation instructions.

Depending on the building, it may include:

Emergency procedures
Procedures for calling the fire department
Occupant evacuation procedures
Supervisory staff responsibilities
Staff training
Fire drill procedures
Fire hazard controls
Inspection and maintenance procedures
Alternative measures during system shutdowns
Building drawings and schematics

The plan must reflect the actual conditions of the property.

How Often Should a Fire Safety Plan Be Updated?

A Fire Safety Plan should be reviewed whenever significant changes occur.

It should also be reviewed at least annually.

An update may be necessary after:

Change of ownership
Renovations
Change in occupancy
New tenants
Increased occupant load
Changes to exit routes
Fire alarm upgrades
Sprinkler modifications
Changes to supervisory staff

An older approved plan may no longer accurately represent the building.

What Happens If You Don't Have a Required Fire Safety Plan?

If your building requires a Fire Safety Plan and does not have one, it can become a Fire Code compliance issue.

The deficiency may be discovered during:

A fire inspection
Licensing inspection
Complaint investigation
Property renovation
Change of use
Investigation following a fire

It is usually better to determine the requirements before an inspection identifies the issue.

How Much Does a Fire Safety Plan Cost?

There is no single price for every building.

Cost normally depends on:

Building size
Number of floors
Occupancy type
Number of tenants
Fire protection systems
Existing drawings
Building complexity
Fire department submission requirements

A small residential property may require a much simpler plan than a hotel, apartment building or industrial facility.

How Sterling Safety Can Help

Sterling Safety prepares Fire Safety Plans for residential, commercial and industrial properties throughout Toronto and the GTA.

Our services include:

Fire Safety Plan preparation
Property fire and life safety assessments
Floor plans and schematics
Evacuation diagrams
Fire department submission support
Fire Safety Plan updates
Rooming house plans
Restaurant and bar plans
Warehouse plans
Apartment building plans

We prepare plans based on the actual building, rather than using generic templates.

Not Sure Whether Your Building Needs a Fire Safety Plan?

If you own or manage a property in Toronto or the GTA, Sterling Safety can help determine whether a Fire Safety Plan may be required.

Fire Safety Plan preparation in Toronto - Fire Safety Plan Toronto service page

Send us the property address, building use, approximate size, number of floors and estimated occupant load.

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

Contact Sterling Safety today to request a Fire Safety Plan quote.