What’s Open and What’s Closed at the City

HAMILTON, ON - All City of Hamilton administrative offices will be closed from December 25 to January 1 and will reopen on January 2, 2024.

For emergencies involving roads, water mains, sewer systems, and safety issues, please call 905-546-2489.

For a list of city services and facilities available over the holidays, please see the summary below or visit www.hamilton.ca/holidayclosures

ATS-DARTS

The ATS Customer Service office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. not including statutory holidays.

The office will be closed on:

• December 25 (Christmas Day)
• December 26 (Boxing Day)
• January 1 (New Year’s Eve)

DARTS will be operating holiday service hours on December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1. All subscription trips on DARTS, with the exception of dialysis trips, are cancelled for December 25, 26 and January 1.  If passengers need to travel on these days, they must make an advance reservation to do so. 

Full details on accessible transit are available at www.hamilton.ca/ats

Animal Services

• The City of Hamilton Animal Services office and shelter located at 247 Dartnall Road will be closed on December 25, 26 and January 1. 
• The office counter and shelter will be open on December 27 to December 31.
• For animal-related emergencies please call 905-574-3433.
• For Found animals at the shelter, visit www.facebook.com/hamiltonanimalservicesfoundpets
• Dog licences can be obtained online 24/7 at www.hamilton.ca/animals-pets/dogs/buy-dog-licence
• For 24-hour Animal Services emergency issues, please call: 905-574-3433. You can also visit www.hamilton.ca/animalservices.

Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse

The Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park hours are as follows

• December 24 - 10 am to 2 pm
• December 25 & 26 - Closed
• December 17 to 31 - 9 am to 5 pm
• January 1 - Closed
• January 2 - 9 am to 5 pm

Green Bin, Recycling, Leaf and Yard Waste and Garbage Collection

• There will be no green bin, blue box, bulk waste, or garbage pick-up on Monday, December 25, 2023 or Monday, January 1, 2024. Waste collection will occur one day later during the holidays.
• During the week of December 25, waste collection is pushed ahead by one day. There are no additional changes to waste collection schedule to due to Boxing Day, December 26.
• Real Christmas trees will be collected the first and second weeks of January from January 2 to 12, on regular collection days.
• All items must be at the curb by 7 am.
• Bulk garbage can be scheduled online only www.hamilton.ca/bulk from December 25 to January 2.
  • There will be no bulk garbage collection from December 25 to January 5. Bulk garbage collection resumes the week of January 8.
• Community Recycling Centres are open regular hours 8 am to 6 pm, December 23 and December 26 to 30.  Sites are closed on Sundays, December 25 and January 1.
• There will be no new green bin or blue box pick-up on Tuesday, December 26.

Hamilton Civic Museums

• All Hamilton Civic Museums are closed on Mondays and on Tuesday, December 26. Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum is also closed on Tuesdays. The Hamilton Children’s Museum and Griffin House are closed for renovations.

Hamilton Farmers' Market

• Sunday, December 24 - CLOSED
• Monday, December 25 - CLOSED
• Tuesday, December 26 - CLOSED
• Wednesday, December 27 - 9 am to 5 pm
• Thursday, December 28 - 9 am to 5 pm
• Friday, December 29 - 9 am to 7 pm
• Saturday, December 30 - 8 am to 5 pm
• Sunday, December 31 - CLOSED
• Monday, January 1 - CLOSED 
• Tuesday, January 2 - CLOSED

Hamilton Public Library

• All HPL branches are closed on December 24 to 26, December 31, and January 1, 2024.
• Bookmobile service is off the road, and Extended Access and Study Hall services are unavailable.
• Central Library will be open as a warming place (First Floor) from December 25 to 26 and January 1, 2024, from 1 to 5 pm.
• Our Virtual Branch is always open at hpl.ca.

Housing Services

• The Housing Services office at 350 King Street East will be closed December 25, 2023 and will reopen January 2, 2024 at 8:30 am.

HSR Holiday Service

• The HSR Customer Service Centre at the Hamilton GO Station (36 Hunter St, East,) will be closed on December 25 & 26, 2023 and January 1, 2024.
• For assistance with trip planning, call 905-546-CITY. Phone service is available 7-days-a-week, including on holidays, from 7:30 am  to 8 pm.
• For HSR’s holiday service schedule, please visit: www.hamilton.ca/BusNews.
• Routes that do not operate on Sundays will not operate on the holiday Monday. As a result, HSR myRide and Route 18 Waterdown Mountaineer will not be running.
• Trans-Cab service will align with HSR Sunday schedules.
• Customers can plan their trips using the HSRnow suite of products that provide real-time, 24/7 access to service information, including alerts for HSR customers.
• NEW YEAR’S EVE service Sunday, December 31, 2023
  • HSR Service is free after 6 pm and will be operating a Sunday level of service
  • Only routes that operate past 10 pm have been extended, all other routes will continue to operate at regular Sunday level of service.
  • Last downtown trips leaving Frank A. Cooke Terminal will be at 12:30 am and 1 am on most routes.
• Customers can plan their trips using the HSRnow suite of products that provide real-time, 24/7 access to service information, including alerts for HSR customers.

Licensing and By-Law Services

• The Licensing and By-Law Phone Queue Line 905-546-2782 will close on December 22, 2023 at 4:30 pm and will reopen January 2 at 8:30am. If you have a matter that requires immediate attention such as vital services, or a health and safety concern, please call the City’s Customer Contact Centre at905-546-2489

Municipal Service Centres

• All Municipal Service Centres will be closed on December 25, 2023 and will reopen January 2, 2024 at 8:30 am.
• The City of Hamilton offers five convenient ways to pay your property taxes. Learn about the payment options at www.hamilton.ca/PayYourPropertyTax

Ontario Works

• The Ontario Works Program, including the Special Supports Program will be closed on Monday, December 25, 2023 and will reopen Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 8:30 am.
• The Ontario Works Program phone line 905-546-4800 and Special Supports phone line 905-546-2590 will resume on Tuesday, January 2 at 8:30 am.

Parking and Enforcement

• Hamilton Municipal Parking System offices are no longer open to in-person services. Remote Services (Permits, Disputes, etc.) will be closed from December 25, 2023 and will reopen January 2, 2024 at 8:30 am.
• Parking Enforcement will have staff on the road on December 27 to 29, from 6:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on December 31 from 6:45am to 5 p.m. with no overnight enforcement. Otherwise, there will be no enforcement from December 25 to January 1 at 10 pm.
• Proactive enforcement may occur for special events and areas of interest.

Public Health Services

• To report suspected reportable diseases and food poisoning, call 905-546-2063.
• To reports environmental spills, fires, or other events that may be a health hazard or safety issue, call 905-546-2489.
• To report potential animal exposure to rabies, call 905-546-2489.
• Safe Water Program issues that may be a health hazard, call 905-546-2489 or visit www.hamilton.ca/safewater.
• Public Health Services Mobile COVID vaccine clinics will be closed on closed on December 25, 2023 and will reopen January 2, 2024 at 8:30. For more information on upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics, visit www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine
• The Dental Health Bus remains closed until further notice. For more information visit www.hamilton.ca/dentalhealthbus

Public Health Services Holiday Booking Line Hours

• The Public Health Services Vaccine Booking Line will be closed December 25, 2023 and will reopen Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 8:30 am. For information on upcoming vaccine clinics and to book an appointment online please visit www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

Recreation

• Norman Pinky Lewis, Westmount and Valley Park Recreation Centres will be open as warming locations only on December 25, 26 and Jan 1 from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm.
• All remaining City of Hamilton recreation centres and arenas will be closed on December 25, 26 and January 1, 2024.

Traffic Violations

• The Provincial Offences Administration Office at 50 Main St. E. will be closed on Monday, December 25, 2023 and will reopen Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 8:30 am.
• Online payments can be made anytime at www.hamilton.ca/pay-your-ticket.