Vacant Buildings

The City of Hamilton's Vacant Building Registry By-law 10-260 requires property owners to register vacant buildings with the Municipal Law Enforcement (MLE) section each year. 

MLE Officers will proactively inspect vacant buildings at least 4 times a year and will enforce violations of the City's By-laws.  To ensure public safety, property owners are responsible for complying with all applicable statutes, regulations and by-laws that include the following;

• Building Code Act, 1992
• Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997
• Property Standards By-law, 10-221
• Yard Maintenane By-law, 10-118
• Snow and Ice By-law, 03-296

Failure to comply with all directions of this by-law will result in fines of $10,000.00 for an individual and $50,000.00 for a corporation upon first conviction and Fee for Inspection costs.

Property owners of commercial, industrial buildings and residential buildings containing 4 or more individual units must post at least one sign on the vacant building readable from all adjacent streets.  The information must be in black letters on white retro-reflective background.