More landlord licensing coming to Brampton communities in 2026

More landlords will need to register with the city or face stiff fines when Brampton’s landlord licensing program expands to nearly all areas of the city next year.

On Wednesday, Brampton City Council approved changes to the Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) program – a pilot project requiring some landlords of properties with four or fewer rental units to obtain a license to operate.

The controversial program currently only applies to those landlords in wards 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7. But starting next year, all but three wards will be under the licensing requirements for the next two years.

Starting in 2026, wards 2 and 8 will be part of the pilot program, leaving out wards 6, 9 and 10. The expanded RRL program will now run until the end of 2028.

“Brampton is growing rapidly, and our housing policies must keep pace with the realities facing our residents,” Wards 1 and 5 Councillor Rowena Santos said in a release. “These reforms give responsible landlords the tools to do things right, and give the City the authority to act when things go wrong.”

Property owners who are not registered can be fined up to $1,200.

RELATED: Fees dropped as Brampton seeks adherence to rental licensing program

A total of 3,424 RRL licenses have been issued as of April, the city says. Over 1,900 investigations have led to over 400 penalty notices issued for licensing violations, with $301,800 in fines issued.

There are also more than 830 ongoing RRL investigations.

Expanding the program into wards 2 and 8 will also introduce “several key improvements, including the creation of a new Rental Compliance Unit and a Certified Rental Registry to track legal units and guide enforcement,” Santos says.

“Residents have been clear: they want action on illegal and unsafe rentals, overcrowding, and declining property standards,” Santos said. “This new compliance unit will ensure consistent enforcement in areas being piloted, while also supporting responsible landlords through education — not just penalties.”

Enhanced enforcement operations will cost an additional $1.3 million for new bylaw enforcement staffers and equipment, according to a city report. Some $400,000 will be funded from revenues generated through enforcement, while the balance will be transferred from the city’s reserve funds.

Mayor Patrick Brown has said there are an estimated 16,000 unregistered rental units in Brampton, and that the pilot project is “expanding because it’s an effective tool.”

The program has seen multiple challenges from local landlords and changes since it was first introduced. Registration fees were initially set at $300 before being reduced to $150, and then scrapped altogether.