Brampton residents and property owners will soon face much steeper penalties for breaking city bylaws, after council approved sweeping increases to fines covering parking, snow clearing, dumping, rental properties and dozens of other offences. The changes, passed in a decisive 10–1 vote at council’s final meeting of 2025, will take effect on Jan. 1 and represent one of the most significant overhauls of Brampton’s bylaw penalty system in years.
City staff told council the new fine structure is intended to improve compliance, deter repeat offenders and better reflect the real impact these violations have on neighbourhood safety, cleanliness and quality of life. A major shift in the new framework is the expanded use of graduated fines, meaning penalties will rise sharply for second and subsequent offences instead of remaining flat.
Parking and stopping violations are among the most affected. Fines for parking in designated fire routes, which were previously a flat $150 per ticket, will now escalate to $250 for a second offence and $350 for any further violations. The most dramatic increase targets vehicles that interfere with snow clearing. A first offence will now cost $250, double the previous amount, while a second offence jumps to $500 and any additional violations will result in a $750 fine.
Snow clearing responsibilities for property owners have also been tightened. Failing to remove snow, ice or slush from sidewalks, neglecting snow removal from buildings, or failing to provide adequate warning during snow removal will now trigger a graduated fine system starting at $250, increasing to $500 for a second offence and $750 for repeat violations.
Illegal dumping and waste-related offences will also see tougher penalties. Council approved 12 infractions under refuse and dumping bylaws, including two new violations for setting out garbage bins outside permitted times and failing to remove bins by 8 p.m. on collection day. These offences will start at $250 for a first infraction, rising to $500 and then $750 for repeated non-compliance. Several existing dumping-related violations will also see higher fines for repeat offences, though first-offence fines will remain at $250.
Pool safety is another major focus of the fine hike. All nine pool fence enclosure offences are being converted from a flat $350 ticket to a graduated structure. While the first offence remains $350, a second violation will now cost $750 and any third or subsequent offence will result in a $1,000 fine, reflecting the serious safety risks associated with unsecured pools.
Property maintenance rules are also being tightened. Ground cover maintenance violations will still carry a $250 fine for a first offence, but second offences will now cost $500 instead of $375, and third or subsequent violations will rise to $750. Similar increases apply to “vital services” bylaws, which cover issues such as heat, water and electricity. All eight vital service violations will move from a flat $350 fine to a graduated system, with second offences penalized at $700 and third or subsequent offences reaching $1,000.
Some of the steepest increases target rental properties and housing standards, an area council has repeatedly said is critical to protecting tenants and neighbourhoods. For additional residential units, fines for failing to register a unit or obstructing inspections will increase from $750 to $1,000 for a first offence, $1,250 for a second, and $1,500 for repeat violations. The penalty for failing to comply with a city order has jumped sharply from $250 to $1,000 per offence.
Occupancy standards violations will more than quadruple for first offences, rising from $250 to $1,000. Second offences will increase from $500 to $1,250, while third and subsequent violations will now carry a $1,500 fine.
Under Brampton’s Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) program, existing fines are also going up. The 10 current violations will now carry a $750 fine for a first offence, $1,250 for a second and $1,500 for third and subsequent violations. Three new offences have also been added, including failing to post a rental licence on the premises and failing to comply with a city order, all subject to the same escalating penalties.
City officials say the changes are designed to target chronic offenders while encouraging voluntary compliance before fines escalate. Residents and landlords are encouraged to review the updated bylaws on the City of Brampton’s website to understand their responsibilities before the new fines take effect in the new year.