City of Brampton - Multiple Dwellings

Requirements for Smoke Alarms and CO Alarms

Ontario Fire Code Division B, 2.13.2.1. requires operating smoke alarms on every storey of each dwelling unit, located outside of the sleeping area.
City of Brampton By-Law 275-98 as amended requires that a Carbon Monoxide alarm (CO alarm)is installed outside of the sleeping area in each dwelling unit of a house that contains a fuel-fired appliance (eg. gas / oil furnace, fireplace)

Additional Requirements

Note: The Ontario Fire Code is applicable regardless of who is living in additional units within your home, even if they are members of your family.

The Ontario Fire Code is applicable regardless of who is living in additional units within your home, even if they are members of your family.
The Ontario Fire Code is applicable regardless of who is living in additional units within your home, even if they are members of your family.

Please identify which of the following condition exists within your home and refer to the appropriate Appendix for further instruction:

two dwelling units that came into existence on or before July 14, 1994 – go to “Appendix 1”
two dwelling units that came into existence between July 15, 1994 and November 15,1995 - go to “Appendix 2”
two dwelling units that came into existence on November 16, 1995 to present - go to “Appendix 3”
two dwelling units that came into existence with dates unknown - go to “Appendix 3”
three or more dwelling units present – go to “Appendix 4”

In order to comply you must start this process immediately as it may take the full time allotted to gain compliance.

You will need to determine if your additional dwelling unit is a permitted use as defined by the City of Brampton Zoning By-Law by contacting the Zoning Department at 905-874-2090.

Be advised that under the authority of Section 28.(1)(d) of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, every person is guilty of an offence if he or she, refuses or neglects to obey or carry out the directives of the Fire Marshal, an Assistant to the Fire Marshal or a Fire Chief given under the authority of this Act. 1997, c. 4, s. 28 (1); 2002, c. 18, Schedule N, s. 6. and that an individual convicted of an offence under subsection (1) is liable to a fine of not more than $20,000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or both.

A Fire Prevention Officer will conduct an inspection of your premises after 90 days of you being sent a copy of this package. On the date of the inspection, the expectation is that the building is fully compliant with all codes and by-laws and all pertinent documentation be provided. Please complete the Checklist as provided in Appendix 5.

When the Fire Prevention Officer attends on the date specified, charges will be filed if your building is not compliant with all codes and by-laws.

Appendix 1: Legal Non-Conforming Two-Unit Dwelling that came into existence on or before July 14, 1994.

Two unit dwelling that came into existence on or before the above date is a permitted use by “Grandfathering” of prior laws. Legal non-conforming means that only one additional dwelling unit is a permitted use by the City of Brampton Zoning By-Law and does not mean that your residence is necessarily in conformance with the Ontario Fire Code. The Ontario Fire Code is applicable regardless of who is living in the additional dwelling unit within your home. The 2007 Ontario Fire Code, Division B, Section 9.8 defines a dwelling unit as a room or suite of rooms operated as a housekeeping unit that is used as a domicile by one or more persons and that contains cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities.

Failure to comply with the code may result in fines of up to $50,000 and/or not more than one year in prison for each violation of the code.

In order to comply, ALL of the following steps must be taken:

Approval must be obtained from the City of Brampton Zoning department for permitted use of one additional dwelling unit. Please contact Zoning at 905-874-2090.
The dwelling units must comply with Division B, Section 9.8 of the 2007 Ontario Fire Code. The 2007 Ontario Fire Code can be found on the website for the Office of the Fire Marshal at:

http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca/english/legislation/firecode/FireCode-2007.asp

http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca/english/Publications/Guidelines/98commen.asp

The Office of the Fire Marshal’s phone number is 416- 325-3100.

An Inspection by the Electrical Safety Authority is required and deficiencies must be corrected prior to the Fire Prevention Officer’s inspection. The Electrical Safety Authority can be contacted at: http://www.esainspection.net/ 1-877-372-7233.
Ontario Fire Code Division B, 2.13.2.1. requires operating smoke alarms on every storey of each dwelling unit, located outside of the sleeping area.
City of Brampton By-Law 275-98 as amended requires that a Carbon Monoxide alarm (CO alarm) is installed outside of the sleeping area in each dwelling unit of a house that contains a fuel-fired appliance (eg. gas / oil furnace, fireplace).

The property can be converted back to a one dwelling unit house by completing ALL of the following:

All tenants/occupants must be removed from one of the dwelling units, and
The locks separating the units shall be removed and replaced with passage sets, and
Owners must sign the “One Unit Dwelling Declaration” located at the back of this package and provide to the Fire Prevention Officer, and
Ontario Fire Code Division B, 2.13.2.1. requires operating smoke alarms on every storey of each dwelling unit, located outside of the sleeping area, and
City of Brampton By-Law 275-98 as amended requires that a Carbon Monoxide alarm (CO alarm) is installed outside of the sleeping area in a house that contains a fuel-fired appliance (eg. gas / oil furnace, fireplace).

It is strongly recommended that you contact a consultant for assistance. Consultants may by found in your local yellow pages or online at http://www.yellowpages.ca/search/si/1/home+inspect/brampton or on the website for the Office of the Fire Marshal at: http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca/english/Resources/consult.asp.

Before starting any work, a building permit is required. It may be helpful for you to speak to the City of Brampton Building Department before attending in person. They can be contacted at: (905) 874-2401

A Fire Prevention Officer will attend your residence after 90 days to inspect the entire property and the expectation is that the building is fully compliant with all codes and by-laws. If you want to bring your two unit dwelling into compliance with the fire code, you will need to provide copies of two (2) electrical inspection certificates with no deficiencies, one for each of the two (2) dwelling units. If applicable you will also need to provide, a copy of the completed building permit and a copy of the consultants report.

Failure to comply with all applicable codes and by-laws will result in prosecution.

Appendix 2: Legal Non-Conforming Two-unit Dwelling that came into existence between July 15, 1994 and November 15, 1995

Two unit dwelling that came into existence during the above dates are a permitted use by “Grandfathering” of prior laws, however Division B, Section 9.8 of the Ontario Fire Code DOES NOT APPLY. Legal non-conforming means that only one additional dwelling unit is a permitted use by the City of Brampton Zoning By-Law and does not mean that your residence is necessarily in conformance with the Ontario Building Code.

The Ontario Building Code is applicable regardless of who is living in the additional unit within your home.

Definition of dwelling unit as per 1994 Ontario Building Code “Dwelling Unit means a suite operated as a housekeeping unit, used or intended to be used as a domicile by 1 or more persons and usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping, and sanitary facilities”.
Failure to comply with the Ontario Building Code could constitute a fire hazard and as such is in violation of 2.1.2.2. of Division B of the Ontario Fire Code.
Failure to comply with the fire code may result in fines of up to $50,000 and/or not more than one year in prison for each violation of the fire code.

In order to comply, ALL of the following steps must be taken:

The dwelling unit must comply with the requirements of Part 9 or Part 11 of the 1990 Ontario Building Code with the 1994 amendments. The requirements of Part 9 and Part 11 of the 1990 Ontario Building Code can be found on the City of Brampton Fire and Emergency Services website Click here , and
An Inspection by the Electrical Safety Authority is required and deficiencies must be corrected prior to the Fire Prevention Officer’s inspection. The Electrical Safety Authority can be contacted at: http://www.esainspection.net/ 1-877-372-7233, and Ontario Fire Code Division B, 2.13.2.1. requires operating smoke alarms on every storey of each dwelling unit, located outside of the sleeping area, and
City of Brampton By-Law 275-98 as amended requires that a Carbon Monoxide alarm (CO alarm) is installed outside of the sleeping area in each dwelling unit in a house that contains a fuel-fired appliance (eg. gas / oil furnace, fireplace).

The property can be converted back to a one dwelling unit house by completing ALL of the following:

All tenants/occupants must be removed from one of the dwelling units, and
The locks separating the units shall be removed and replaced with passage sets, and
Owners must sign the “One Unit Dwelling Declaration” located at the back of this package and provide to the Fire Prevention Officer, and
Ontario Fire Code Division B, 2.13.2.1. requires operating smoke alarms on every storey of each dwelling unit, located outside of the sleeping area, and
City of Brampton By-Law 275-98 as amended requires that a Carbon Monoxide alarm (CO alarm) is installed outside of the sleeping area in a house that contains a fuel-fired appliance (eg. gas / oil furnace, fireplace).

Approval must be obtained from the City of Brampton Zoning department for permitted use of one additional dwelling unit. Please contact Zoning at 905-874-2090.

Before starting any work, a building permit is required. It may be helpful for you to speak to the City of Brampton Building Department before attending in person.

They can be contacted at: (905) 874-2401

A Fire Prevention Officer will attend your residence after 90 days to inspect the entire property and the expectation is that the building is fully compliant with all codes and by-laws. If you want to bring your two unit dwelling into compliance, you will need to provide copies of two (2) electrical inspection certificates with no deficiencies, one for each of the two (2) dwelling units.. If applicable you will also need to provide, a copy of the completed building permit and a copy of the consultants report.

Failure to comply with all applicable codes and by-laws will result in prosecution.

Appendix 3: Two units that came into existence from November 16, 1995 to present, or date of existence unknown to owner – illegal use

More than one dwelling unit is not permitted and is not safe. The property must be returned to a One Dwelling Unit house regardless of who is occupying the additional dwelling unit.

Definition of dwelling unit as per 1994 Ontario Building Code “Dwelling Unit means a suite operated as a housekeeping unit, used or intended to be used as a domicile by one or more persons and usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping, and sanitary facilities”.

The property shall be converted back to a one dwelling unit house by completing ALL of the following:

All tenants/occupants must be removed from one of the dwelling units, and
The locks separating the units shall be removed and replaced with passage sets, and
Owners must sign the “One Unit Dwelling Declaration” located at the back of this package and provide to the Fire Prevention Officer, and
Ontario Fire Code Division B, 2.13.2.1. requires operating smoke alarms on every storey located outside of the sleeping area, and
City of Brampton By-Law 275-98 as amended requires that a Carbon Monoxide alarm (CO alarm) is installed outside of the sleeping area in a house that contains a fuel-fired appliance (eg. gas / oil furnace, fireplace).

Failure to comply with all applicable codes and by-laws will result in prosecution.

Appendix 4: Three or more dwelling units present - illegal use

Approval must be obtained from the City of Brampton Zoning department for permitted use of more than two dwelling units. Please contact Zoning at 905-874-2090.

Should your house be zoned for more than two dwelling units and approval is obtained, contact the fire prevention officer listed in the letter.

Two dwelling units may be permitted, see Appendix 1 or Appendix 2.

If approval is not obtained from the City of Brampton Zoning department the property must be returned to a One Dwelling Unit house regardless of who is occupying the additional dwelling unit.

The property shall be converted back to a one dwelling unit house by completing ALL of the following:

All tenants/occupants must be removed from one of the dwelling units, and
The locks separating the units shall be removed and replaced with passage sets, and
Owners must sign the “One Unit Dwelling Declaration” located at the back of this package and provide to the Fire Prevention Officer, and
Ontario Fire Code Division B, 2.13.2.1. requires operating smoke alarms on every storey located outside of the sleeping area, and
City of Brampton By-Law 275-98 as amended requires that a Carbon Monoxide alarm (CO alarm) is installed outside of the sleeping area in a house that contains a fuel-fired appliance (eg. gas / oil furnace, fireplace).

A Fire Prevention Officer will attend your residence after 90 days to inspect the entire property and the expectation is that the building is fully compliant with all codes and by-laws. The expectation is that the building will be in compliance with Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, or converted back to a One Dwelling Unit house and if not, charges will be filed.

Failure to comply with all applicable codes and by-laws will result in prosecution.

Appendix 3: Two units that came into existence from November 16, 1995 to present, or date of existence unknown to owner – illegal use

Appendix 4: Three or more dwelling units present - illegal use

Appendix 5: Checklist For Owner

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Additional Requirements

Appendix 3: Two units that came into existence from November 16, 1995 to present, or date of existence unknown to owner – illegal use

Appendix 4: Three or more dwelling units present - illegal use