Markham CHAPTER 121: RENTAL PROPERTIES § 121.27
FEES
Operative Text
Residential rental license and inspection fees shall be established annually by the city and shall be assessed to and paid by each rental residential property owner. (A) (1) License fee. An annual license fee as stated in the Business License Fees Ordinance shall be paid to the city by the building owner (or owner's agent) for each separate dwelling unit. (2) Crime-free rental housing training fee. Required training classes, as administered by the city's Police Department, shall be completed by the land owner (or owner's registered agent) for all residential rental buildings. The fee for this class is incorporated in the license fee. (B) Reduced license fee. A residential rental is subject to a reduced license fee if, upon application, the owner or owner's agent presents proof of a valid and enforceable property maintenance agreement for, at a minimum, exterior maintenance including grass cutting and snow removal. (1) The owner or owner's agent shall sign an affidavit attesting to the validity of the property maintenance agreement. (2) This provision shall by no means alleviate the owner for the ultimate responsibility of property maintenance. (3) If the property fails to adhere to the requirements of the property maintenance code or is found to be in violation of any other provision of this code relating to property maintenance, despite proof of a valid and enforceable property maintenance agreement, the owner or owner's agent shall be responsible for the remaining portion of the license fee, in addition to any other fees or fines imposed. The owner shall be thereafter ineligible for the reduced license fee as specified herein for all future applications. (C) Annual inspection fees and reinspection fees shall be per dwelling unit as specified in the Business License Fees Ordinance. An owner that fails to appear in person or through its agent shall be subject to the next corresponding reinspection fee. (Ord. 17-O-2162, passed 1-18-2017; Ord. 20-O-2281, passed 9-16-2020; Ord. 24-O-2388, passed 5-15- 2024)
Section 121.27 of Markham's rental property regulations establishes that residential rental property owners must pay annual license and inspection fees set by the city, with each dwelling unit assessed separately. Owners may qualify for a reduced license fee by demonstrating a valid property maintenance agreement covering at minimum exterior upkeep such as grass cutting and snow removal. However, if a property is found in violation of maintenance codes despite that agreement, the owner loses the reduced fee benefit for all future applications and becomes responsible for the full fee amount.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 121.27, compliant rental property operators pay the annual license fee — set by the Business License Fees Ordinance — for each dwelling unit they own, and ensure that the required crime-free rental housing training (administered by the city's Police Department) is completed by the owner or a registered agent. Operators seeking the reduced license fee submit an application with proof of a valid exterior property maintenance agreement and sign an affidavit attesting to its validity, while understanding that the agreement does not transfer ultimate maintenance responsibility away from the owner. Operators also budget for per-unit inspection and reinspection fees as specified in the Business License Fees Ordinance, and arrange for in-person or agent representation at scheduled inspections to avoid escalating reinspection fees.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 121.27 governs the fee structure that landlords in Markham must satisfy to legally operate a residential rental, including annual licensing and inspection fees assessed per dwelling unit. Tenants may find it relevant that a landlord's eligibility to operate under a valid license depends on meeting these fee and maintenance obligations — a landlord who loses reduced-fee eligibility due to code violations has a documented compliance history that may be relevant to habitability concerns. Tenants who believe their rental property is not being properly maintained or licensed can contact the City of Markham directly or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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