What is it?
A townhouse is a building where several homes are joined side by side. Land in the GTA is expensive, so builders sometimes fit more homes on the same land by building townhouses in two tighter ways.
A stacked townhouse puts homes one above another. There is another home on top of the lower home. A back-to-back townhouse shares not only its side walls but also its rear wall with the home behind it. So it has no backyard. Some buildings combine both, as a "back-to-back stacked townhouse".
In each type, you do not go in through a hallway like an apartment. Every home has its own door straight from the outside.
At a glance
| Type | Joined on | Yard | Entrance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular townhouse | Side walls with neighbours (three or more homes) | Usually front and back yards | Each home has its own |
| Back-to-back townhouse | Side walls and the rear wall (four or more homes) | No backyard | Straight from the outside |
| Stacked townhouse | Side walls, and also stacked one above another | Varies (terrace, balcony, rooftop and so on) | Every home has its own outside door |
| Back-to-back stacked townhouse | Side walls, rear wall, and stacked | Varies | Straight from the outside |
"Joined on" and "Entrance" are plain versions of the City of Brampton’s by-law definitions. The yard examples (terrace, balcony, rooftop) are common cases. Every project is different, so check the floor plans.
How Brampton’s by-law defines them
- Back-to-back townhouse: a building with four or more homes, divided by shared walls including a shared rear wall, with no backyards, and each entrance reached straight from outside the building.
- Stacked townhouse: a townhouse where homes are stacked one above another, and every home has its own access through an outside entrance.
- Back-to-back stacked townhouse: a back-to-back townhouse where the homes are also stacked one above another.
- Brampton approved its new Zoning By-law 14-2026 on February 4, 2026, but it is under appeal. The City says that for now both the old By-law 270-2004 and the new By-law 14-2026 apply, and the stricter rule wins. Other cities may define these terms differently.
What to know before you buy
- How you own it: the same shape can be a condo, a POTL (you own the land and a corporation owns only the shared parts) or freehold. It differs by project. For a new home, the builder’s agreement and disclosure statement say which. If it is a condo, there are condo fees and condo rules.
- Windows and light: a back-to-back home shares its rear wall, so it cannot have windows at the back. Check which sides have windows, and how many, on the floor plan and the exposure.
- Floors and stairs: in a stacked townhouse, upper and lower homes have different layouts. Check on the floor plan how many floors you climb from the front door and which floor the bedrooms are on.
- Noise: you share walls or floors with neighbours above, below, beside or behind you, so check the sound-proofing details in the builder’s materials.
- Parking and garbage: whether parking is in a shared underground garage or in front of your home, and where garbage goes, also differs by project.
An example
Spruce Trails in Brampton (Camcos Living) is a project the builder describes as "stacked and back-to-back townhomes". According to the builder, the Garden Collection on the ground floor has a private patio, the Urban Collection on the second floor has a balcony, and the Rooftop Collection has two storeys of living space and a private rooftop space.
Inside one building, the layout and the outdoor space change with the floor. That is why, with a stacked townhouse, the first thing to check is which floor the home is on.
What the law and official sources say
Quotes are copied word for word. The "In plain words" lines are our explanation, not an official translation.
Dwelling, Back-to-Back Townhouse: shall mean a building containing four or more dwelling units, separated vertically by common walls, including a rear common wall, that do not have rear yards, and each entrance is accessed directly from the outside the building.In plain wordsIn plain words: four or more homes that share side and rear walls, have no backyards, and each have a door straight from outside.
Source: brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall/Bylaws/Archive/014-2026.pdf · checked Nov 2, 2026
Dwelling, Stacked Townhouse: shall mean a townhouse dwelling where dwelling units are separated both horizontally and are also stacked vertically, and where all dwelling units have a private access via an exterior entrance.In plain wordsIn plain words: a townhouse with homes stacked one above another, where every home has its own outside door.
Source: brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall/Bylaws/Archive/014-2026.pdf · checked Nov 2, 2026
Dwelling, Back-to-Back Stacked Townhouse: shall mean a back-to-back townhouse dwelling in which the dwelling units are also stacked vertically.In plain wordsIn plain words: a back-to-back townhouse whose homes are also stacked one above another.
Source: brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall/Bylaws/Archive/014-2026.pdf · checked Nov 2, 2026
At this time, both Zoning By-law 270-2004 and Zoning By-law 014-2026 apply, with the most restrictive provisions prevailing.In plain wordsIn plain words: while the new by-law is under appeal, both the old By-law 270-2004 and the new By-law 014-2026 apply, and the stricter rule wins.
Source: brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall/Zoning-By-law-Review · checked Nov 2, 2026
Common questions
Is a stacked townhouse a condo?
You cannot tell from the shape. It may be a condo, a POTL or freehold. For a new home, check the builder’s agreement and disclosure statement. For a resale, check the title and the status certificate, and review them with a lawyer.
Does a back-to-back townhouse really have no backyard?
Under Brampton’s by-law definition, it is a building without rear yards. Many projects add other outdoor space instead, such as a front yard, a balcony or a rooftop terrace. Check the floor plan and the agreement to see which space is yours.
Do homes in the same project differ a lot?
Yes. In a stacked townhouse, lower and upper homes can differ in layout, number of stairs and outdoor space. Prices also change with the floor and layout. Compare the floor plans and price list model by model.
Guides that use this term
Sources checked
- City of Brampton Zoning By-law 14-2026 (final, Feb. 4, 2026), Chapter 2 Definitions · checked Nov 2, 2026
- City of Brampton, Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review (which by-law applies now) · checked Nov 2, 2026
- Camcos Living, Spruce Trails page (example) · checked Nov 2, 2026