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

Updated 2026-10-03.

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.

## Two licences, two building types

A building of six or more rental units is in the [Safe Apartment Buildings](https://www.hamilton.ca/people-programs/housing-shelter/tenant-landlord-resources/safe-apartment-buildings-program) program anywhere in the city. A smaller rental in Wards 1, 8 or part of 14 carries a [rental housing licence](https://www.hamilton.ca/build-invest-grow/starting-small-business/business-licences/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](https://roundhousegroup.ca/buildings/rental-apartment-buildings/).

## Cooling has a date range

Hamilton's [heat rule](https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/23-162-consolidated-nov2025.pdf) 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](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/hvac/).

## The City runs the water

Water, wastewater and stormwater all belong to the [City of Hamilton](https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/water-wastewater-stormwater), reached at 905-546-2489 for an emergency. A backup on the private side goes to a licensed drain contractor. The [Protective Plumbing Program](https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/home-property/basement-flooding/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](https://www.hamilton.ca/city-council/by-laws-enforcement/register-by-law-complaint)).

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](https://roundhousegroup.ca/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](https://www.hamilton.ca/people-programs/housing-shelter/tenant-landlord-resources/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)](https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/23-162-consolidated-nov2025.pdf)
- 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)](https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/2026-01/23-162-consolidated-nov2025.pdf)
- 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](https://www.hamilton.ca/build-invest-grow/starting-small-business/business-licences/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](https://www.hamilton.ca/build-invest-grow/starting-small-business/business-licences/renovation-licence-and-relocation-by)

## 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](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/99c14c)). 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](https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/2025-09/housing-needs-assessment-federal-template-aug2025.pdf)).

## Related pages

- [Rental apartment buildings](https://roundhousegroup.ca/buildings/rental-apartment-buildings/)
- [HVAC, heating and cooling](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/hvac/)
- [What is a landlord responsible for maintaining in an Ontario rental?](https://roundhousegroup.ca/answers/landlord-maintenance-obligations-ontario/)

## 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.