# Property maintenance in Burlington's rental buildings and GO corridors Updated 2026-10-02. Burlington directs its growth to three [Major Transit Station Areas](https://www.burlington.ca/en/planning-and-development/official-plan.aspx) at the Aldershot, Burlington and Appleby GO stations. Those station areas, with the former downtown growth centre around Burlington GO, are the city's intensification areas. ## Common areas count in the heat rule Burlington's [heat clause](https://www.burlington.ca/en/by-laws-and-animal-services/resources/By-laws/By-law-Search/Consolidated-By-laws/Consolidated-Property-Standards-By-law-028-2009.pdf) reaches recreation and laundry rooms as well as suites. A cold laundry room in November is a by-law item, not only a comfort one. The season runs September 15 to May 31, starting two weeks later than Oakville's. See the [heating season](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/hvac/heating-season/). ## For facility and building managers An apartment building's work splits between in suite calls and common areas: lobbies, garbage rooms, parking and laundry. Both come to us, with one invoice format. See [facilities management](https://roundhousegroup.ca/facilities-management/) and [cleaning](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/cleaning/). ## Additional units and the closed incentive Houses can add up to three [additional units](https://www.burlington.ca/en/building-and-renovating/additional-residential-units.aspx), but the City's [ARU incentive program](https://www.burlington.ca/en/building-and-renovating/additional-residential-unit-incentive-program.aspx) closed to new applications on October 1, 2025. ## Water [Halton Region](https://www.halton.ca/for-residents/water-and-wastewater-services) owns water and wastewater for Burlington and runs the basement flooding subsidy, including 50 percent of a backwater valve up to $1,600 ([application form](https://www.halton.ca/repository/basement-flooding-prevention-subsidy-application)). Plumbing is done by licensed plumbers and drain work by licensed drain contractors. Gas work is done by TSSA registered contractors. We only use ECRA/ESA-Licensed Electrical Contractors. Pest control is done by licensed exterminators. To send a Burlington job, [request work](https://roundhousegroup.ca/request-work/). ## Burlington rules we check - In residential rental buildings, heat is kept at 20 C or more from September 15 to May 31, in living space and in recreation and laundry rooms, but not locker rooms or garages (section 3.2.2(a) of Property Standards By-law 028-2009). By-law 88-2020 moved the start from September 1 to September 15. The rule does not apply where the tenant controls the temperature and can reach 20 C. Source: [City of Burlington, Consolidated Property Standards By-law 028-2009](https://www.burlington.ca/en/by-laws-and-animal-services/resources/By-laws/By-law-Search/Consolidated-By-laws/Consolidated-Property-Standards-By-law-028-2009.pdf) - No occupied building may use portable heating equipment as its primary heat source except in an emergency. The by-law sets no maximum indoor temperature. Source: [City of Burlington, Consolidated Property Standards By-law 028-2009](https://www.burlington.ca/en/by-laws-and-animal-services/resources/By-laws/By-law-Search/Consolidated-By-laws/Consolidated-Property-Standards-By-law-028-2009.pdf) - An urban residential lot with a detached, semi or townhouse can add up to three additional residential units by building permit. Parking is two spaces for the main home, none for the first additional unit and one more for a second or third. Source: [City of Burlington, Additional residential units](https://www.burlington.ca/en/building-and-renovating/additional-residential-units.aspx) - Since May 1, 2025, a short term rental of 28 consecutive days or less needs a City licence, must be the operator's principal residence and can be rented at most 183 days a year. It is not a licence for long term tenancies. Source: [City of Burlington, Short term accommodation by-law approved](https://www.burlington.ca/en/news/burlington-city-council-approves-short-term-accommodation-by-law.aspx) ## Related pages - [Rental apartment buildings](https://roundhousegroup.ca/buildings/rental-apartment-buildings/) - [Getting a Rental Building Ready for Heating](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/hvac/heating-season/) - [Facility managers](https://roundhousegroup.ca/facilities-management/) ## Questions ### When does Burlington's heating season start? September 15, and it runs to May 31, at 20 C in residential rental buildings. The start moved from September 1 to September 15 with By-law 88-2020. ### Does Burlington's heat rule apply to a rented house? Section 3.2.2(a) is written for residential rental buildings. Where the tenant controls the thermostat and can reach 20 C, it does not apply. ### Is Burlington's ARU incentive program still open? No. It closed to new applications on October 1, 2025, and was only offered inside the City's Rental Housing Community Improvement Project Area. ### Who do I call about a Burlington by-law issue? By-law enforcement at 905-335-7731 or bylaw@burlington.ca. Water and sewer problems go to Halton Region at 311 or 905-825-6000.