Property
Vacant Buildings Registry
Contact Us
For more information
Call 905-546-2489 or
Email [email protected]
Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Hamilton’s Vacant Building Registry By-law No. 17-127 requires property owners to register vacant buildings each year. For a building to be considered vacant, it needs to be unoccupied for more than 90 consecutive days.
As a vacant building owner, it is your responsibility to:
- Register the building after 90 days of becoming vacant or within 30 days after notice from the city.
- Comply with property use by-laws, regulations and statutes.
- Post at least one sign with the owner's name and contact number if there are 4 or more units. Sign should be readable from all adjacent streets. Information should be in black letters on a white background.
To register your vacant building, complete the Vacant Building Registry Form and submit:
In person
Licensing and By-Law Services
City Hall (Main Floor)
71 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4Y5
We accept cash, cheque, debit, VISA or MasterCard
By mail
City Hall
Municipal Law Enforcement
71 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4Y5
We only accept cheque or money order by mail. Payable to the City of Hamilton.
Fee: $1203 - Initial administration fee $314 and yearly inspection fee $786 + HST ($102.27)
The yearly registration will initiate four exterior building inspections to ensure there are no by-law violations.
A renewal notice and application will be sent to all registered owners 30 days before expiry.
Vacant building inspections
Municipal Law Enforcement Officers proactively inspect vacant buildings at least 4 times a year and will enforce by-law violations. Failure to comply with all directions of the by-law will result in fines of $10,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a corporation upon first conviction and fee for Inspection costs.
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