Provincial and Territorial Brake Regulations
Provinces:
(Listed from the West to East)
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland / Labrador
Yukon Territory
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
British Columbia
Trailer Brake Requirements
Gross trailer weight of 1,400 kg (3,080 Ibs) or less – Brakes are required if the trailer and its load weigh more than 50% of the licensed weight of the vehicle towing it.
Gross trailer weight of 1,401 kg (3,081 Ibs) to 2,800 kg (6,160 Ibs) – Brakes are required, including a breakaway brake.
Gross trailer weight of more than 2,800 kg (6,160 Ibs) – Brakes are required, and the trailer brakes must be capable of being applied by the driver independently of the towing vehicle's brakes. A surge brake does NOT meet this requirement. A breakaway brake is also required. Brakes are required on all axles.
The sole exemption to this rule is for a 3 axle house trailer, in which case brakes are only required on 2 of the 3 axles.
Towing Dolly Brake Requirements
Gross weight of dolly and motor vehicle carried is 1,400 kg (3,081 Ibs) or less.
Brakes are not required on the dolly if the net weight of dolly plus (+) the gross weight of motor vehicle carried plus (+) the gross weight of tow vehicle equals (=) less than the gross vehicle weight rating of the towing vehicle.
Combinations other than the two outlined above require brakes on the towing dolly. Brakes are not required on the motor vehicle being carried by the dolly.
Tow Bar Brake Requirements
Motorhome and Towed Motor Vehicle – If the towed motor vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of less than 2,000 kg (4,400 Ibs) and is less than 40% of the gross vehicle weight rating of the motorhome, brakes and coordinated brake control are not required.
Commercial Vehicle with GVWR over 5,500 kg (12,100 Ibs) and Towed Motor Vehicle – If the aggregate weight of the combination does not exceed the GVWR of the commercial vehicle brakes are not required on the motor vehicle being towed.
Other Combinations – If the combination is not included in the two situations outlined above, brakes are required on all wheels of the motor vehicle being towed in the same manner as trailer brake requirements.
General Brake Requirements
Brakes with which a trailer is equipped when applied must be adequate to maintain control of the trailer; when applied must not affect the direction of travel of the trailer.
Breakaway Brake – must automatically apply when the trailer separates from the tow vehicle and when applied must be capable of remaining fully applied for at least 15 minutes.
Detached Trailers
No person shall park or leave a detached trailer at any place on a highway unless the wheels are locked so that the trailer will remain stationary at that place.
Alberta
Trailer Brake Requirements
If gross laden weight of trailer is 909 kg / 2,004 Ibs or over, or if gross trailer weight is over half that of the unit, independent braking system is required.
Not required for trailers with a gross laden weight of not more than 910 kg (2006 Ibs) or trailers with a gross laden weight of less than half of the weight of the towing unit.
Breakaway brakes are required on trailers over 907 kg (2,000 Ibs).
Saskatchewan
Any trailer towed behind a motor vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 1,360 kg (2,999 Ibs) and greater, requires brakes on all axles with a break-away system that will apply the brakes of the trailer in the event it breaks away from the towed vehicle.
Currently in Saskatchewan, a motor vehicle that is towed behind another motor vehicle is not required to have operational brakes. However, proposed legislation will require any vehicle that has a GVWR in excess of 2,000 kg (4,409 Ibs) or 40% the GVWR of the towing vehicle to be fitted with brakes.
Current legislation requires that where the combined weight of the towed vehicle and tow dolly exceed 50% of the Gross Vehicle Weight of the towing vehicle, the tow dolly shall have brakes.
The maximum weight of any motor vehicle towed behind a towing motor vehicle is 2,800 kg (6,173 Ibs) or twice the weight of the towing vehicle, whichever is less.
Manitoba
Brakes On Trailers
Every semi-trailer that forms part of, or is attached to, a semi-trailer truck, and every trailer that is attached to a motor vehicle and that has a gross weight in excess of 910 kg (2,006 Ibs), when upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate, when operated in combination with the brakes of the motor vehicle or semi-trailer to which it is attached, to stop and hold the semi-trailer truck, or the semi-trailer truck and trailer, or the motor vehicle and trailer, as the case may be, within the distances prescribed by the law (subsection 8).
Breakaway brakes are required on trailers 907 kg (2,000 Ibs) and over.
Ontario
Trailer or semi-trailer - Every trailer or semi-trailer having a gross weight of 1,360 kilograms (3,000 Ibs) or more shall be equipped with brakes adequate to stop and to hold the vehicle.
Quebec
Independent braking system is required in each weight bearing wheel where gross weight exceeds 1,300 kg (2,867 Ibs). Breakaway brakes are required on all trailers 1,360 kg (3,000 Ibs) and over.
New Brunswick
Independent braking system required where gross weight exceeds 1.5 tons or 1,500 kg (3,308 Ibs).
Nova Scotia
Independent braking system required where gross weight of load and vehicle exceeds 1,800 kg (3,969 Ibs). Breakaway brakes are required on all trailers with a registered weight of over 1,350 kg (2,977 Ibs).
Prince Edward Island
Independent braking system where gross weight exceeds 1,500 kg (3,308) lbs.
Newfoundland / Labrador
Independent braking system needed where gross weight exceeds 4,500 kg (9,923 lbs) or two or more axles are used on the trailer.
Yukon Territory
Independent braking system required if gross weight exceeds 910 kg (2,007 lbs) or one-half of the licensed weight of towing vehicle.
Northwest Territories
Brakes required if gross laden weight of trailer is 1,360 kg (2,999 lbs) or over, or if gross laden weight of trailer exceeds 50% of gross laden weight of towing vehicle.
Nunavut
Not specified.