Happy Holidays: What's Open & Closed

All City of Hamilton administrative offices will be closed from December 25, 2025 and will reopen on Friday, January 2, 2026.

For emergencies involving roads, water mains, sewers, animals or health and safety issues (including spills, outbreaks, rabies exposure or water hazards), call 905-546-2489 (CITY).

City Service Closures (December 25 to January 1)

• Health Connections
• Housing Services Office (350 King St. East) 
• Licensing and By-Law Services phone queue (905-546-2782) and service counters (City Hall, first floor and 330 Wentworth St. N.)
  • Municipal Law Enforcement Officers will not enforce routine matters or complaints from 4:30 p.m. December 24 until 8 a.m. January 2.
  • Enforcement of health and safety, vital services, lack of heat and water, matters or complaints will continue throughout the closure at reduced hours 
  • Please call 905-546-2489 (CITY)
• Municipal Service Centres
• Provincial Offences Administration Office (traffic violations)
  • Pay tickets online on Tickets, Fines & Penalties web page
  • Outstanding fines that have resulted in a suspended driver’s licence can be paid in full at ServiceOntario 

Service Adjustments

Adult Day Program at Macassa Lodge 

• December 25, 26 and January 1: closed

Animal Services Office and Shelter

• December 27 to 31: open 

Hamilton Civic Museums

• December 25, 26, 29 and January 1: closed
• Visit the Hamilton Civic Museums webpage for hours of operation and program information  

Hamilton Farmers’ Market 

• December 22: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• December 23: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• December 24: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• December 27: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• December 25, 26, 28, 29, 30 and January 1: closed 

Hamilton Municipal Parking System Office

• Closed for in-person services
• Remote services (permits, disputes, etc.) closed December 25
• Parking enforcement
  • No regular parking enforcement: December 25, 26 and January 1
  • December 22, 23, 27, 29, and 30:  6:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • December 24,31: 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • December 19 to January 3: No overnight enforcement between 10 p.m. and 6:45 a.m.
  • Proactive enforcement may occur for special events and priority areas 

Hamilton Public Library branches

• All branches closed December 21, 25, 26, 28 and January 1
• Holiday service hours in effect December 24 to 31
• Bookmobile service is off the road
• Extended Access at Carlisle, Freelton, Greensville and Lynden is not available December 24 to 31
• After Hours Study Halls are on pause December 19 to January 4
• Visit the Hamilton Public Library web page for virtual services 

Hamilton Street Railway (HSR)

• December 25  
  • Buses will operate on a special holiday service, with the last trips leaving downtown at approximately 9 p.m. Visit Schedules and Detours web page for details 
  • No service: Routes 12 Wentworth and 42 Mohawk East
  • MyRide Waterdown and Trans-Cab operating 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 
• December 26
  • Routes 1, 2, 16, 21, 25, 26, 41 and 43 will operate on a Saturday schedule
  • All other routes that normally operate on Sundays will run on a Sunday schedule 
  • No service: 12 Wentworth and 42 Mohawk East
  • MyRide Waterdown and Trans-Cab operating 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.   
• December 31
  • Regular weekday schedule, free after 6 p.m. 
  • MyRide in Waterdown and Trans-Cab operating 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.   
• January 1
  • Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule
  • No service: 12 Wentworth, 42 Mohawk East 
  • MyRide in Waterdown and Trans-Cab operating 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.   
• HSR Customer Service counter, Hamilton GO Centre
  • December 25, 26 and January 1: closed
  • December 24: open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • December 29 -31: open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.   
• Phone service is available 7 days a week, including holidays, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., 905-546-2489 

DARTS

• ATS Customer Service Office
  • December 25, 26 and January 1: closed 
• Operating schedules: 
  • All subscription trips cancelled – except dialysis – for December 25, 26 and January 1
  • Reservations are required for travel on these dates
    • December 24, 31: weekday service
    • December 26: Saturday service
    • December 25 and January 1: holiday service  

Ontario Works Program

• December 25, 26 and January 1: closed
• December 29 to 31: 250 Main St. E. Central Office open with reduced services from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
• The Special Supports Program and the Mountain Office at 1550 Upper James St. will be closed 

Public Health Services 

• December 25 to January 1: Public Health administrative offices, including the Vaccine Program phone and records line, Child & Adolescent Services walk-in clinic and dental clinics and bus are closed
• Van Needle Syringe Program 
  • December 24: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • December 25, 26 and January 1: closed
  • December 27: Regular service hours resume
  • December 31: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Recreation Centres and Arenas

• December 25 and January 1: closed
• December 24 and 31: close at 4 p.m.
• Visit the Hamilton Recreation web page for individual location schedules

Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park

• December 24: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• December 25, 26 and January 1: closed
• December 27 to 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• December 31: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Waste Collection

• No waste collection (garbage, blue box, green bin, yard waste or bulk garbage) on December 25 or January 1
• Collection will occur one day later for the affected routes          
• Waste must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day
• Natural Christmas tree collection: first two full weeks of January on your regular collection day (remove decorations, stands and bags; limit of five trees)
• Bulk garbage phone bookings closed December 21 to January 1, resume January 2 at 8:30 a.m.
• No bulk garbage pick-up from December 22 to January 5; bulk collection resumes the week of January 12

Community Recycling Centres:

• December 25, 28 and January 1: closed

Additional Information

• Accessible transit: hamilton.ca/ats
• Found pets: hamilton.ca/foundpets
• Vaccine reporting: hamilton.ca/vaccinereporting
• Pay your property tax: hamilton.ca/payyourpropertytax