Property maintenance in Hamilton under By-laws 23-162 and 24-054

Hamilton is a single tier city. It licenses its apartment buildings, runs its own water and sewers, and since September 2025 puts a ceiling on the summer temperature where the landlord supplies air conditioning.

Checked 2026-10-03

Request work in Hamilton How it works

A maintenance technician carries a ladder to a red brick walk up apartment building in Hamilton, the escarpment in the distance

Coverage

Served Hamilton

Also covered: Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown, Binbrook

Two licences, two building types

A building of six or more rental units is in the Safe Apartment Buildings program anywhere in the city. A smaller rental in Wards 1, 8 or part of 14 carries a rental housing licence instead. The apartment program comes with City building evaluations, and a repair record with dates and photos is the first thing to have ready. Work in the apartment buildings is covered under rental apartment buildings.

Cooling has a date range

Hamilton's heat rule sets 20 C with no season written into it. Its cooling rule does have one, May 15 to September 15. A landlord supplied air conditioner that stops in that window is a heating or cooling failure, answered 24/7 and booked with an HVAC technician. See heating and cooling.

The City runs the water

Water, wastewater and stormwater all belong to the City of Hamilton, reached at 905-546-2489 for an emergency. A backup on the private side goes to a licensed drain contractor. The Protective Plumbing Program grant drops from $2,000 to $500 if the contractor is not on the City's pre-qualified list, so we check the list before the valve is booked.

Complaints go to Licensing and By-law Services

Property standards complaints are made at 905-546-2782, option 2, in business hours, or at 905-546-2489 after hours and for inadequate heat (City of Hamilton).

Plumbing is done by licensed plumbers and drain work by licensed drain contractors. Gas work is done by TSSA registered contractors. We only use ECRA/ESA-Licensed Electrical Contractors. Pest control is done by licensed exterminators.

To send a Hamilton job, request work.

Hamilton by-laws in force

Since January 1, 2026, every apartment building in Hamilton with two or more storeys and six or more rental units sharing a common area registers each year under the Safe Apartment Buildings By-law 24-054 and is evaluated by the City. The 2026 registration fee is $60 plus HST per unit.
Source: City of Hamilton, Safe Apartment Buildings Program
Where the landlord supplies central or non-central air conditioning, it must hold the unit at 26 C or less from May 15 to September 15 (subsections 22(8) and 22(9) of Property Standards By-law 23-162, added by By-law 25-171, effective September 17, 2025). A landlord is not required to install cooling where none exists.
Source: City of Hamilton, Property Standards By-law 23-162 (consolidated November 2025)
The heating system has to hold at least 20 C in every habitable room, measured 1.5 m above the floor and 1 m from exterior walls, during normal hours of occupancy (section 19(1) of By-law 23-162). The by-law writes no heating season into the rule. By-law 23-162 replaced By-law 10-221.
Source: City of Hamilton, Property Standards By-law 23-162 (consolidated November 2025)
Rental buildings of five or fewer self contained units, detached houses and townhouses in Wards 1 and 8 and part of Ward 14 need a Rental Housing Licence. The two year pilot that started January 1, 2024 was made permanent by Council in December 2025.
Source: City of Hamilton, Rental housing licence
Since January 1, 2025, a landlord who serves an N13 applies for a Renovation Licence within 7 days, at a fee of $715, under the Renovation Licence and Relocation By-law 24-055.
Source: City of Hamilton, Renovation Licence and Relocation By-law

Six towns, one city

Hamilton was formed on January 1, 2001 from the City of Hamilton, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Flamborough and Glanbrook, when the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth was dissolved (City of Hamilton Act, 1999). 34.3 percent of households rent, 76,400 of 222,810 in the 2021 Census, above Ontario's 31.4 percent. The City counts about 37,120 purpose built rental units and about 38,370 rented privately (Hamilton Housing Needs Assessment).

Common services in Hamilton

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Questions

Which Hamilton buildings fall under the Safe Apartment Buildings By-law?

Apartment buildings anywhere in the city with two or more storeys and six or more rental units sharing a common area, some qualifying condominium rental buildings included. It has been in force since January 1, 2026.

Is Hamilton's 26 C cooling rule in force?

Yes. By-law 25-171 added it to Property Standards By-law 23-162 effective September 17, 2025. It applies from May 15 to September 15 where the landlord supplies air conditioning.

Where does Hamilton require a rental housing licence?

In Wards 1 and 8 and part of Ward 14, for rental buildings of five or fewer units, detached houses and townhouses. Council made the program permanent in December 2025.

Does Hamilton help pay for a backwater valve?

Yes, through the Protective Plumbing Program. It offers a grant of up to $2,000 for homes built before 2012, capped at $500 if the contractor is not on the City's list, plus a separate $2,000 loan at 4 percent.

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