Businesses that fail to comply with City of Brampton bylaws could soon face significantly higher penalties as the city moves to strengthen enforcement measures and encourage greater compliance among property owners and business operators.
A new staff report recommends amendments to Brampton’s Administrative Penalties By-law that would increase fines for businesses and property owners who fail to comply with city orders. If approved by City Council, the changes could generate more than $117,000 in additional annual revenue while reinforcing the city’s efforts to ensure compliance with municipal regulations.
The proposed changes come after a review of the city’s Business Licensing By-law, which has undergone several updates since being revised in 2024. City staff found that various amendments, including changes to schedules and regulatory provisions, resulted in outdated references within the current penalty framework. The recommended updates are intended to modernize the bylaw and improve enforcement effectiveness.
According to the report, nearly 150 properties received approximately 271 “fail to comply with an order” tickets during 2025. Under the current system, each violation carries a fine of $250. The city is now proposing a graduated penalty structure that would substantially increase the financial consequences for repeat offenders.
Under the proposed framework, the first offence would carry a fine of $500, double the current amount. A second offence would increase to $750, while any subsequent violations would result in a $1,000 penalty. City officials believe the escalating fine structure will serve as a stronger deterrent and encourage businesses and property owners to address violations more quickly.
Staff say the amendments will allow Enforcement and By-law Services to resume full enforcement activities under the updated regulations and improve overall compliance outcomes across the city.
In addition to stronger penalties, the report recommends changes to insurance requirements for short-term rental operators. Currently, applicants seeking a short-term rental licence must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $2 million. Following a review of Brampton’s rental licensing framework, staff are recommending that the requirement be changed to General Liability insurance with the same minimum coverage amount.
City officials noted that the existing requirement is more restrictive than similar insurance requirements under Brampton’s Residential Rental Licensing program. The proposed amendment aims to create greater consistency across the city’s housing-related licensing systems while maintaining adequate protection for residents and property owners.
Another proposed change would increase the notice period required when an insurance policy is cancelled, expires, or undergoes significant changes. The notification period would increase from 10 days to 15 days, aligning the city’s requirements with standard insurance industry practices and ensuring consistency within Brampton’s rental housing regulations.
The proposed amendments are scheduled to be reviewed by a committee of Brampton City Council this week. If approved, the changes would strengthen the city’s ability to enforce bylaws, encourage compliance, and help maintain fair operating standards for businesses and rental property operators throughout Brampton.
City officials believe the measures will not only improve enforcement effectiveness but also contribute to safer, more accountable, and better-regulated business and rental environments for residents across the community.