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Lodging House Review Project

​​​​​​​​​​​​​The City of Brampton is reviewing its lodging house policies and regulations to develop stronger, clearer, and more enforceable standards that improve safety, accountability, and neighbourhood quality. This work is intended to ensure lodging houses are only permitted where appropriate, while helping preserve affordable housing options for residents.

Project Update: The review is building on past research, jurisdictional scans, and Council workshops, and is now focused on assessing current policies, the housing landscape, and local challenges. Internal consultation will occur in Fall 2025, followed by public engagement on future policy options. Final options and recommendations are targeted for a statutory public meeting in Winter 2025.

Key Facts

  • Lodging houses are a longstanding form of naturally occurring affordable housing in Brampton.
  • The City currently licenses lodging houses, but gaps in the framework make regulation and enforcement difficult.
  • Not every house can be used as a lodging house. Buildings must meet Ontario Building Code and Fire Code requirements and obtain a change of use permit, which often means significant upgrades before the use can be permitted.
  • Modernizing policies will help bring more unregulated operations under oversight, protect affordable housing for residents, and reduce neighbourhood impacts.
  • The intent of this review is not to add more units, but to establish clearer, stronger standards that improve accountability for safety, property maintenance, and neighbourhood quality.
  • Residents will have the opportunity to participate in the engagement process in Fall 2025 before Council considers any recommendations.

Myths vs. Facts

Myth: Any house can become a lodging house.

Fact: Not all properties are able to operate as a lodging house.

Buildings must first meet Ontario Building Code and Fire Code requirements, which require a change of use permit to first be issued by the City and often require significant structural upgrades before the use can be permitted.

Myth: All multi-tenant occupancies are lodging houses.

Fact: A lodging house is generally defined as a dwelling where more than four separate tenants rent separate rooms, like a hotel, and only share common facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms. A group of tenants living together as a group (e.g. students, friends) is not a lodging house. These units may still require a license to operate if located in one of the Residential Rental License (RRL) pilot wards.

Myth: Lodging houses are unsafe.

Fact: Safety issues arise mainly in unregulated units. A comprehensive regulatory framework improves accountability and safety by making operators accountable. Where licensed, lodging houses are inspected annually to ensure dwellings are safe and comply with fire code, building code, public health, property and occupancy standards.

Myth: Lodging Houses only serve students and transient renters.

Fact: Lodging houses support a wide range of residents including seniors, newcomers, single workers, and people in transition. For many, they are the only affordable and flexible housing option available.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The City currently defines a lodging house (sometimes called a rooming or boarding house) as a dwelling where more than four individual tenants rent separate rooms, while sharing common areas like kitchens or bathrooms. This is different from shared accommodations where tenants live as a single housekeeping unit and share control over the unit (e.g., sharing meals and household decisions).

No. Lodging houses already exist in Brampton, both licensed and unlicensed. The purpose of the review is not to add more units, but to develop clearer, stronger standards that hold operators accountable and ensure lodging houses are only permitted where appropriate and supported by planning policies. Council has not made final decisions and will receive recommendations for potential improvements in the Fall.

​A ban would drive existing operations further underground, making them harder to track and regulate. Lodging houses remain one of the most affordable rental options for many residents, including singles, seniors, students, newcomers and people in transition. Regulation ensures oversight, enforceability and accountability while supporting vulnerable renters.

The City is updating its lodging house policies to reflect current community needs and ensure regulations are clear and enforceable. Modernizing the framework allows the City to establish clearer definitions and use-specific standards, such as potential occupancy limits, parking ratios and property management requirements, that protect residents and promote safe, well-managed housing in local communities.

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​Without an updated framework, unregulated lodging houses may continue to create challenges such as unsafe living conditions. Updating the regulations provides the City with more tools to enforce standards, helping to protect residents and maintain the quality and character of neighbourhoods.​​

Yes. Residents will be able to participate in public consultation in Fall 2025 before any recommendations are brought to Council for consideration in Winter 2025.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the review, please contact housing@brampton.ca.​