Ontario bans e-bike and e-scooter storage in building hallways starting January 1 after 124 fires in Toronto this year
Ontario's new Fire Code rules, effective January 1, 2027, ban storing or charging e-bikes and e-scooters in corridors and common areas of residential buildings. Toronto has had 124 lithium-ion battery fires in 2026.
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CP24 and the Toronto Sun reported that Ontario announced changes to its Fire Code on November 6 that will ban storing or charging e-bikes and e-scooters in building hallways and common areas, starting January 1, 2027.
The rules come after a surge in lithium-ion battery fires in Toronto. Toronto Fire Services reported 124 such fires in 2026, an increase of more than 200 percent since the department began tracking them in 2022. More than half of those fires occurred in multi-residential buildings, according to CP24.
Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop told CP24 the changes are "a good first step," but said federal action to restrict uncertified batteries is also needed. Jessop called lithium-ion battery fires "the greatest public safety fire risk" facing the city.
What the new rules require
Under the Ontario Fire Code amendments, residents in condominiums and apartment buildings will not be able to store or charge e-bikes or e-scooters in corridors, hallways, or other common areas. The ban also covers any public exits.
The province will also prohibit modifications to the batteries of electric mobility devices that increase the device's speed or torque. Those modifications increase the energy the battery must hold and have been linked to a higher risk of fire.
A public comment period on the proposed changes runs through November 16, 2026, through Ontario's Regulatory Registry, the province's public site for reviewing and commenting on proposed regulations.
Why Toronto's highrises are at higher risk
Toronto has more than 3,000 highrise buildings, and the city's housing stock means large numbers of residents live in multi-unit buildings where a fire in a hallway can affect many people quickly. A fire starting from a battery left to charge in a corridor, or one that has been damaged, can spread through a building before residents can safely leave.
Jessop said the fire department has seen batteries stored in hallways because residents' suites do not have enough space. The new rules are designed to push storage into individual units, where a fire is more contained, or into designated areas with better fire protection.
What residents should do
Starting January 1, 2027, residents in Ontario apartment and condo buildings cannot store or charge e-bikes or e-scooters in building hallways or common areas. Residents with damaged batteries should dispose of them through their municipality's hazardous waste collection rather than leaving them in a building.
Toronto residents with concerns about fire safety in their building can contact Toronto Fire Services at 311.
Questions this story answers
What new fire safety rules did Ontario announce for e-bikes and e-scooters?
Ontario announced Fire Code amendments effective January 1, 2027. The rules ban storing or charging e-bikes and e-scooters in hallways and common areas of residential buildings. They also prohibit modifying batteries on electric mobility devices to increase speed or torque.
When do the new Ontario Fire Code rules take effect?
The new rules take effect January 1, 2027. A public comment period on the proposed amendments runs through November 16, 2026, via Ontario's Regulatory Registry. Residents can submit comments through the registry, which is the province's public site for reviewing and commenting on proposed regulations before they become law.
How many lithium-ion battery fires has Toronto had in 2026?
Toronto Fire Services reported 124 lithium-ion battery fires in Toronto in 2026 as of the date of the announcement. That is an increase of more than 200 percent since the fire department began tracking these fires in 2022.
What did Toronto's fire chief say about the new rules?
Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop told CP24 that the changes are 'a good first step,' but said more action is needed, including federal involvement to restrict uncertified batteries. Jessop called lithium-ion battery fires 'the greatest public safety fire risk' facing the city.
Where in Toronto are most of these fires happening?
More than half of Toronto's lithium-ion battery fires occur in multi-residential buildings. Toronto has more than 3,000 highrise buildings. The new storage and charging bans in hallways and common areas are aimed at reducing the risk in those buildings.
What happens if a battery is modified under the new rules?
Under the Fire Code amendments, modifying a lithium-ion battery on an electric mobility device to increase its speed or torque will be prohibited. The province announced the ban alongside the storage rules as part of the same package of changes.
How can a resident comment on the proposed Ontario Fire Code changes?
Ontario's public comment period on the proposed Fire Code amendments runs through November 16, 2026. Comments can be submitted through Ontario's Regulatory Registry. The registry is the province's public site for reviewing and commenting on proposed regulations.
What should a Toronto resident with an e-bike or e-scooter do now?
Starting January 1, 2027, residents living in a condo or apartment building cannot store or charge an e-bike or e-scooter in building hallways or common areas. Residents with damaged batteries should dispose of them safely. The Fire Code changes apply to all residential buildings in Ontario.
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