Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has made it clear that the city’s $300 landlord licence application fee will not be returning—not now and not in future budgets. His commitment comes after a Nov. 26 staff report suggested the fee could be reinstated in 2027 as part of the expansion and long-term sustainability of the Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) program.
The RRL pilot program currently applies to landlords who own four or fewer residential rental units in wards 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7. Under council-approved plans, the city will gradually expand the program to wards 2 and 8 and then citywide in 2026. Recognizing gaps in safety compliance, council earlier extended the pilot until the end of 2028.
In March, council waived the $300 application fee for the rest of 2025 to encourage landlords to register their properties. A later decision in June required staff to revisit the fee annually through the city’s budget cycle. Staff noted in their most recent report that reintroducing the fee in 2027 would help recover program costs and maintain service levels.
However, Brown—who holds strong-mayor powers and is the city’s budget chair—has stated he will not allow the fee to reappear in any future budget proposal. In a statement to the Brampton Guardian, the city confirmed that Brown has instructed staff to exclude any RRL licence application fees from budget submissions going forward. The mayor emphasized that the program must remain accessible and free of financial barriers to ensure safety and maintenance standards across rental housing in Brampton.
Landlords have long been vocal critics of the RRL program, arguing that the fee added unnecessary pressure on responsible property owners. The Brampton Housing Providers Association (BHPA), which has staged multiple protests since the program’s launch, welcomed Brown’s promise but maintained that the fee itself was only one part of their broader objections. BHPA President Azad Goyat said that while the permanent removal of the $300 fee is positive, landlords remain concerned about mandatory random inspections and the program’s expansion across the city.
Goyat argued that landlords with legally compliant units should not face additional scrutiny, especially those who already hold occupancy permits and have passed previous inspections. He questioned whether the inspection requirements infringe on property owners’ rights and expressed skepticism about the long-term future of the fee, noting that Brown faces re-election in 2026.
Despite landlord resistance, Brown and council have consistently stated that the RRL was never designed as a revenue tool. Instead, they say the program is focused on enforcing basic health and safety standards and ensuring safe living conditions for Brampton renters. At the recent committee meeting, Brown rejected claims that the RRL was a “cash cow,” reinforcing that no fee currently exists and insisting the program simply asks landlords to comply with building and fire codes—a fundamental expectation of responsible property ownership.
Under existing rules, landlords operating without a licence or found in violation of safety standards face escalating fines starting at $600 and increasing to $1,200 for repeat offences. The city says these penalties reflect its commitment to ensuring that renters live in safe, properly maintained homes.
Brown’s pledge to permanently remove the fee marks a significant shift in the long-running debate, signalling strong mayoral intervention to keep the RRL program accessible while it continues to evolve citywide.