You can register a municipal by-law complaint in one of three ways: online, by phone or email.
1. Online:
The online complaint form is monitored during regular business hours. If you have an urgent complaint regarding private property that is an immediate health and safety concern (e.g. inadequate heat) please call us instead rather than completing the online complaint form. For noise complaints after business hours, please contact Hamilton Police Services at 905-546-4925.
2. Phone:
Contact our office at 905-546-2782, Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 4:30pm. You will receive a recorded message that will prompt you to select one of four options, which list the nature of the complaint or area that you may be inquiring about:
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Press one (1) for: Environmental (e.g. long grass and weeds, garbage and debris, snow removal, graffiti etc.)
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Press two (2) for: Zoning and Property Standards (e.g. plumbing, vacant buildings, mobile signs, etc.)
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Press three (3) for: Business, mobile, or taxi licences
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Press four (4) for: Lottery Licences
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Press five (5) for: Project Compliance - inquiries on the Project Compliance Program, to file a complaint or for information related to a recent visit by our Project Compliance Enforcement Team
Once you have selected one of the above options you will be transferred to a Customer Service Representative who will assist you. Please be advised that you will be asked to provide details about the complaint. Be prepared to provide the following information:
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Your contact information (name, phone number etc.). This information will be kept confidential and is important in the event that we need additional information from you.
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Address of complaint
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Details about complaint (includes dates, times, etc.)
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Nature of the complaint
3. Email:
You can contact our office by email at mle@hamilton.ca. However, if you have a complaint regarding private property that is an immediate safety concern such as inadequate heat or vacant buildings open to trespass, please call 905-546-2782 during business hours or 905-546-2489 after regular business hours rather than sending an email.
To assist with efficiently addressing your complaint it is important that you provide the following information in your email:
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Your contact information (name, phone number etc.). This information will be kept confidential and is important in the event that we need additional information from you.
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Address of complaint
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Details about complaint (includes dates, times, etc.)
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Nature of the complaint
Please note: you will receive an email acknowledging that we have received your email.
What are the timelines for complaint follow up?
We are unable to provide timelines for the enforcement of by-laws. Municipal Law Enforcement Officers can use various tools (e.g. issuing a Notice to Comply) to get compliance with by-laws. Some violations will require immediate action while others need more in depth investigations that take more time.
What are the penalties for not complying with a By-law?
If a “Notice to Comply” or “Order to Comply” is issued and the property owner does not take the appropriate measures to correct the violation within the directed timelines the following may result:
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Charges under the Provincial Offences Act which provided for a maximum fine of $5000.00, in addition to other court proceedings necessary to obtain compliance.
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The City completing the work and the costs added to the property taxes for that property which the property owner will be responsible for payment.
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Fee For Services charge(s) applied.
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Tickets.