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Residential Rental Licensing Pilot Program

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A​​ll rental ​properties with 1 to 4 units must be licensed starting January 1, 2026

In 2026, the pilot program will expand citywide. Current licence holders must renew by January 31, 2026. The licence application is free.

Free Smoke Alarm

Landlords who apply by December 31, 2025 will receive a free battery-operated smoke alarm.
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The City of Brampton’s Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) Program requires landlords to provide safe, well-maintained rental housing in compliance with City standards. All landlords operating rental properties with 1 to 4 dwelling units must have a RRL licence. Operating without a licence is illegal and subject to fines and penalties. The following types of rental properties must be licensed:

  • Single Dwelling Units: Whole residence, no additional units.
  • Two-Unit Dwellings: Principal residence plus one Additional Residential Unit.
  • Multi-Unit Residential Dwellings: More than one Additional Residential Unit, Triplex, Fourplex and Garden Suites.

Important: Any Additional Residential Unit must be registered with the City before applying for an RRL licence. For guidance on registering your unit, click here. An Additional Residential Unit (ARU) is a self-contained rental unit with its own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area. It can be located inside the main house or in a separate building on the same property (such as a garden suite).

Updates to the Program

Effective January 1, 2026, City Council has approved updates to strengthen the RRL Program, including extending the program until December 31, 2028, expanding it to all wards, introducing a mandatory one-time landlord knowledge assessment, and implementing standard licence conditions that will be attached to the licence.​

RRL Licence Process: Step-by-Step

  • All ARUs must be registered with the City before applying for a RRL licence.

  • Ensure all rental units comply with safety, fire and property standards.
  • Ensure all rental units have appropriate insurance coverage based on the type of rental.

  • Submit the online RRL application with all required documents and provide consent for the City to verify that your property meets safety, fire and maintenance standards.
  • The licence application is free.​

  • Once approved, your RRL licence will be emailed.
  • Post licence in a visible location inside the rental unit where tenants can easily see it.
  • Maintain compliance with licence conditions and renew licence annually.

Mandatory Licence Requirements

Licensed landlords must follow all RRL Program requirements. Key licence conditions require landlords to:

  • Follow occupancy limits and only provide rooms for sleeping if they have been approved under a building permit.
  • Maintain working smoke and CO alarms in accordance with Ontario Fire Code.
  • Provide legal parking only; no parking on grass, roadways, walkways or unapproved areas.
  • Maintain the property, including lawn care, snow removal and garbage storage.
  • Provide tenants the Ontario Standard Lease, fire safety instructions, emergency contact info, parking rules and waste guidelines.

Compliance & Enforcement

Having an unregistered ARU or operating without a licence is a serious offence and can have significant safety and health risks to tenants and the community.

  • Fines range from $600 up to $1,200 for failing to register a unit and failing to obtain or comply with a licence.
  • Offences including illegal construction or breaches under the Building Code Act, can result in significant penalties up to $500,000.​

Frequently Asked Questions

Licensing helps ensure units meet fire, building and property standards, improving safety for tenants and giving landlords a verified compliant property, which increases trust in the rental market.

Hotels, motels, lodging houses, supportive housing, long-term care, senior care residences, short-term rentals, and multi-residential buildings with more than four units.

Y​es. Owner-occupied homes with a rented ARU require an RRL licence.

Operating an unlicensed rental can result in fines up to $1,200 per occurrence, or legal action brought before the courts.

One licence per property, regardless of the number of units (1–4).

Yes, and may include your licence number.

Yes. Rental properties must be licensed even if tenants are family.

You must notify the City within 7 days of any changes to the landlord, property manager or ownership. Licences are not transferable. New owners must apply for a licence.

Landlords who apply by December 31, 2025 will receive a free battery-operated smoke alarm. The smoke alarm can be picked up at Brampton Fire & Emergency Services Headquarters (425 Chrysler Drive) between 8 am and 4 pm. Residents must bring proof of their rental licence and will be required to sign a waiver at the time of pickup.

‭(Hidden)‬ Examples of Permitted & Non-Permitted Units

Permitted - Principal residence, plus one Additional Residential Units (ARUs) attached to the principal residence and garden suite (detached ARU) with no shared space between the three units.​
Picture of house​
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Permitted - Principal residence, plus two Additional Residential Units (ARUs) attached to the principal residence with no shared space between the three units.
Picture of house 
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Max. three (3) Additional Residential Units (ARUs) permitted. Four (4) ARUs not permitted - principal residence, plus three Additional Residential Units (ARUs) attached to the principal residence or three (3) ARUs attached to the principal residence, plus a detached ARU (garden suite).
Picture of house 
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Permitted use - Single housekeeping unit with four bedrooms being rented and shared common space.
Picture of house 
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Compliance is a Shared Res​ponsibility

The City works with landlords to support safe, well-maintained r​ental homes. Where violations occur, the City will take enforcement action to bring properties into compliance with City by-laws, the Landlord Code of Conduct and minimum maintenance standards. Fines for operating without a licence start at $600 for a first offence, $900 for a second offence and $1,200 for further offences.

For more information on tenant and landlord responsibilities, visit Information for Tenants or Information for Landlords​.

Total number residential dwelling units licensed as of September 1, 202​5: 3,​971


Program Enhancements

City Council has approved updated to expand and improve the RRL Pilot Program. Key enhancements will include:

  • Extending the pilot program for three more years, beyond 2025
  • Expanding to include Wards 2 and 8
  • Introducing mandatory training as a requirement to certify rental operators
  • Creating new licence classifications to reflect different rental types
  • Integrating with ARU registration to streamli​ne application processes

More details will be shared as updates roll out. ​​​​​​

See full list of FAQs here.

Does My Rental Property Fall Within the RRL Program?

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​​​​Map of Brampton broken down into wards. Showing required wards 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7
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