City offering drop-in clinics to support residential property owners with Vacant Unit Tax declarations

HAMILTON, ON – Starting next week, the City of Hamilton will offer in-person, drop-in clinics in each Ward, where staff will provide personal assistance to help residential property owners complete their Vacant Unit Tax declaration accurately and on time.

No reservations are required. Residential property owners just need to bring their Notice to Declare Letter or most recent property tax bill, which contains the roll number and access code needed to complete their declaration. Clinics will be hosted at the following locations, dates and times.

Vacant Unit Tax Drop-in Clinic Schedule

Monday, March 17

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Winona Community Centre 255 Winona Road, Stoney Creek
• 6 to 9 pm Dalewood Recreation Centre 1152 Main St. West, Hamilton

Tuesday, March 18

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Bennetto Community Centre 450 Hughson St. North, Hamilton

Wednesday, March 19

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre 876 Cannon St. East, Hamilton

Thursday, March 20

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Sir Winston Churchill Recreation Centre 1709 Main St. East, Hamilton

Monday, March 24

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Bill Friday Lawfield Arena 150 Folkestone Avenue, Hamilton
• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Harry Howell Arena 27 Highway 5 West, Flamborough

Tuesday, March 25

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Sackville Hill Seniors Recreation Centre 780 Upper Wentworth St., Hamilton

Wednesday, March 26

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Westmount Recreation Centre 35 Lynbrook Drive, Hamilton

Thursday, March 27

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Valley Park Community Centre 970 Paramount Dr, Stoney Creek

Monday, March 31

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Stoney Creek Recreation Centre 45 King Street West, Stoney Creek
• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Glanbrook Arena 4300 Binbrook Road, Glanbrook

Tuesday, April 1

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Ancaster Rotary Centre & Morgan Firestone Arena 385 Jerseyville Road West, Ancaster

Wednesday, April 2

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - J.L. Grightmire Arena 35 Market Street South, Dundas

Thursday, April 3

• 4:30 to 8:30 pm - Chedoke Twin Pad Arena 91 Chedmac Drive, Hamilton

Declaration Reminders

All residential property owners are required to declare the occupancy status of their properties for the 2024 tax year by Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Failure to submit a declaration by the deadline will result in the residential unit being deemed vacant, and the Vacant Unit Tax will be applied.

Full details on the different ways that residential property owners can submit a declaration, including online, via phone, email, and by mail, are available online at hamilton.ca/VacantUnitTax.

Quick Facts

• The Vacant Unit Tax aims to increase the supply of housing in Hamilton by encouraging residential property owners to keep their properties occupied rather than vacant. Following the recovery of administrative costs, revenues generated from the Vacant Unit Tax will be reinvested into affordable housing initiatives.
• The Vacant Unit Tax applies to all properties classified as residential under the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), including single-family detached, townhouses, row houses, and multi-family dwellings (duplexes to sixplexes). In Hamilton, this represents approximately 180,000 properties.
• To date, approximately 49 per cent of property owners have made their declarations, with 93 per cent completed using the online declaration portal.