City of Hamilton By-laws

Disclaimer: By-laws contained herein, have been prepared in this format for the purposes of convenience only and are not certified true copies. For accurate reference, consult copies of the official By-laws and documents in the Records Division of the Office of the City Clerk.

By-laws by year

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Frequently requested By-laws

Administrative Penalties By-law No. 17-225 (PDF, 916 KB)

Animals By-law No. 12-031 (PDF, 963 KB)
The Responsible Animal Ownership By-law is for the health and safety of residents, property protections, and prevention of public issues. 

Anti-Idling By-law No. 07-160 

Backflow Prevention By-law No. 10-103
The Backflow Prevention By-law ensures that we deliver clean and safe drinking water to all of our residents and businesses and ensures that businesses install a backflow prevention device on the water service line after the water meter to prevent the backflow of water into the city’s drinking water source.

Building Permits By-law 15-058 (PDF, 423 KB)
Any business owner wishing to change their business from one use to another, modify an existing building or build a new building must get building permit. Learn more about building permits for small businesses.

Cemetery By-law No. 12-151
You have four options for disposing of interment rights or scattering rights under the City of Hamilton Cemeteries By-Law.

Council Code of Conduct By-law No. 16-290 (PDF, 227 KB)
A Code of Conduct for Members of Council.

Council Procedures By-law No. 18-270 (PDF, 351 KB)
To Govern the Proceedings of Council and Committees of Council.

Development Charges

• City of Hamilton
• City of Hamilton - Go Transit
• Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board

Fences By-law No. 10-142
If you want to build a fence on your property, you must follow the standards and guidelines set out by Hamilton’s Fence By-law and Hamilton's Fencing of Private Outdoor Swimming Pools.

• Fences - Apportioning of Costs of Division Fences - Urban By-law No. 08-108
• Fences - Swimming Pools By-law No. 16-184

Firearms By-law No. 19-114
Learn more the City's and agencies regulations about discharging firearms in Hamilton.

Fireworks By-law No. 02-285 (PDF, 719 KB)
No Hamilton residents can set off family fireworks except on Victoria Day and Canada Day weekends without a permit.

Fortification By-law No. 10-122

Heat By-law No. 04-091 (PDF, 286 KB)

Licensing - Business By-law No. 07-170 (PDF, 2 MB)
Most businesses in Hamilton must have a business licence to operate legally. This by-law protects the health and safety of the public who use the service and ensures consistency for business owners and customers. Notice: We are reviewing the Business Licensing By-law schedules. 

Lottery Licensing By-law No. 15-051

Mandatory Face Coverings and Masks By-law No. 20-155
The City of Hamilton requires the wearing of face coverings within enclosed public spaces.

Motorized Snow Vehicles Ancaster By-law No. 76-80 (PDF, 313 KB), Hamilton By-law No. 71-23 (PDF, 115 KB), Stoney Creek By-law No. 5078-00 (PDF, 31 KB)

Noise By-law No. 11-285
No person can make or permit an unreasonable noise or a noise that is likely to disturb their neighbours in Hamilton.

Office of the Integrity Commissioner By-law No. 16-288
The Integrity Commissioner helps ensure members of Council conform to a high ethical standard and adhere to the Code of Conduct and any other applicable City procedures, rules or policies.

Open Air Burning By-law No. 02-283 (PDF, 769 KB)
If you have a rural property, you can apply for an open air burning permit to burn clean wood or brush. 

Parking - On-Street By-law No. 01-218 (PDF, 335 KB)
You may only park your vehicle on a street where permitted. Any vehicle parked in a metered spot must have paid the meter and must not exceed the maximum time limit posted for that spot. By-law officers or police officers can issue a parking ticket remove your vehicle at your expense if you do not comply with posted parking restrictions.

Parks By-law No. 01-219 (PDF, 138 kB)

Pesticides By-law No. 07-282
Property owners are prohibited from using pesticides on their property within the City.

Property Standards By-law-No. 10-221
All property owners must maintain and repair the interior and exterior of their property in accordance with certain standards. These standards are put in place to protect the health and safety of occupants and the general public.

Property Maintenance (Yards) By-law No. 10-118
You must keep your property clean of waste and ensure grass and weeds do not exceed 20 cm (8 inches) in height. The exterior of property needs to be free of graffiti including all buildings, structures, fence, walls and vehicles.

Public Nuisances By-law No. 20-077
You must not act in a way that could be considered a public nuisance. Such acts include urinating or defecating in public places and knocking over mailboxes, relay boxes, newspaper boxes, recycling boxes and waste collection containers or odours and lighting from the cultivation of cannabis plants

Sanitary Surcharge and Wastewater Abatement By-law No. 03-272 (includes amendments)

Sewers and Drains By-law No. 06-026

Sewer Use By-law No. 14-090
Hamilton’s Sewer Use By-law regulates the discharge of water and wastewater that enters the City’s sewage works.

Signs By-law No. 10-197
Hamilton’s Sign By-law regulates all outdoor signs and advertising space. This by-law ensures that signs are not a safety hazard and assists in maintaining a clean and positive image for our city.

Site Alteration By-law No. 19-286

Site Plan Control By-law No. 15-176 (By-law 18-104, By-law 19-026 - amendments to By-law No. 15-176)

Snow and Ice By-law No. 03-296 (PDF, 102 KB)
You must clear all snow and ice from your sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall, or 24 hours after a series of snowfalls. 

Solid Waste By-law No. 09-067

Souvenirs and Mementoes By-law No. 03-302 (PDF, 34 KB)

Standing Water By-law No. 03-173 (PDF, 61 KB)
You must ensure that standing water does not accumulate on your property between April 1 and October 31 of each year. Standing water can be a breeding area for pests, including mosquitoes, and is likely to interfere with the enjoyment of the use of private properties and public areas.

Streets By-law No. 86-077 (PDF, 5 MB)

Traffic By-law No. 01-215 (PDF, 164 KB) - Last updated August 31, 2016

Trees - Public Property By-law No. 15-125

Trees - Private Property Urban Woodland By-law No. 14-212 (PDF, 857 KB), Ancaster By-law No. 2000-118 (PDF, 700 KB), Dundas By-law No. 4513-99 (PDF, 633 KB), Stoney Creek By-law No. 4401-96 (PDF, 746 KB)

Trees - Private Property in the Rural Area

• Regional By-law No. R00-054 (PDF, 655 KB)
• Notice of Intent to Cut, Burn, or Destroy Trees Application Form

Vacant Building Registry By-law No. No. 17-127 (PDF, 32.6 KB)
If you own a vacant building, you must register the vacant building with the City. 

Vital Services By-law No. 09-190

Ward Boundary By-law No. 17-030-OMB-01
To establish ward boundaries for the City of Hamilton.

Waterworks Regional By-law No. R84-026

Whistleblower By-law No. 19-181
Hamilton’s Whistleblower By-law protects employees who report serious wrongdoing from job-related reprisals.

Wildlife - To Regulate the Feeding of By-law No. 12-130
You must not feed wildlife on your property, except for birds.  If you feed birds, the feeding must not disturb your neighbours.

Zoning By-law