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City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

As the COVID-19 situation in Hamilton continues to evolve, these Frequently Asked Questions for Development Approvals will be regularly updated as circumstances change to provide residents and developers with current information.

Starting April 1, 2022, City of Hamilton's By-law 21-207 (PDF, 141 KB) requires residential infill projects (construction and/or demolition) to post an Information Notice on the site containing specific information about the project.

The Information Notice is intended to improve communication with the public about what is taking place in their neighbourhood together with contact information.

An Information Notice is required for:

An Information Notice is NOT required for:

To obtain an Information Notice (Construction or Demolition), you must submit to the Building Division, in conjunction with a paper-based or ePLANS-based building permit submission to construct and/or demolish:

An electronic file containing a print-ready (PDF format) Information Notice will be provided to the applicant or owner. The applicant or owner is responsible – at their own cost – to print the Information Notice, in accordance with the specifications in By-law 21-207. 

No changes or additions to the content of the notice are permitted.

When can you remove the Information Notice?

Cities such as Hamilton are in a constant state of change. Some of this change is focused in Hamilton’s residential neighbourhoods, where people demolish and build, build on an existing vacant lot, or renovate older houses. The City of Hamilton calls this process of building and renovating in established neighbourhoods ‘residential infill’.

This guide is intended for property owners, builders, and contractors starting a construction project in an established neighbourhood, and for area residents. The guide outlines requirements and best practices for residential infill construction, as well as communication tips to help everyone involved move smoothly through the project. The guide is not intended to anticipate or solve all issues that may arise, but provides some guidance and contact information to assist, whether you are a property owner, builder/contractor or community member/neighbour.

Residential infill can contribute to the health, vitality, and value of neighbourhoods, including improving property values. Residential infill also contributes to the protection of green space, farmland, forests, wetlands, and watersheds in Ontario’s greenbelt. Instead of building out, the city is building up and intensifying.

However, construction can also result in negative impacts on neighbours and the community. If the project is not well planned, managed, or communicated, construction can be disruptive and damaging. Property owners are to ensure that new home builders are reputable and registered with Tarion.

Builders earn the trust and respect of neighbours by observing all by-laws and by taking steps to minimize the potentially negative impacts of construction.

Informed neighbours are more likely to be understanding and supportive of your project.

As a property owner, it is important to: Communicate with your neighbours before applying for a building permit. Speak with your neighbours in person about your proposed plans early in the process. Explain the work you want to undertake, the expected timelines, and how the proposed work might impact them. Provide neighbours with contact information if issues arise. Create a plan with your neighbours for resolving issues. For example, who should be called for immediate action? Who should be called for less urgent, ongoing issues? Post your building permits in a prominent area on your property at all times until the project has been completed. Starting April 1, 2022, By-law 21-207 (PDF, 141 KB) requires a sign to be posted near or at the front of the property line with key project information.

Are you a neighbour with construction nearby? Private information such as approved drawings and/or inspection notes are only available to the property owner or authorized agent. If you are seeking more information about nearby construction, review the posted sign for contacts. If a sign is not posted, notify the Building Division at 905-546-2720 or [email protected] .

Apart from the building permit, these approvals may also be required from the City and/or other regulatory agencies. Work with your builder, architect, and other professionals involved in the project, to ensure that you have identified all applicable permits and approvals:

Understanding City by-laws and getting ahead of issues before they become problems for you and neighbouring residents can avoid complaints and possible fines.

You have tried talking to the property owner and builder, but you cannot reach them or the issues are not resolved. Who to contact for assistance: Issue/Concerns Contact Dirt/mud, construction materials on streets and sidewalks Trees on private property Noise Construction and renovation waste Property standards Builders or property owners not complying with City by-laws Encroachment onto neighbouring properties Waste dumped on private property Licensing & By-law Services Division Online: Municipal By-law complaint form Phone: 905-546-2782 Email: [email protected] Include your contact information, address of the concern, the nature of the concern, and details such as dates and times. Waste dumped on City property Public Works Phone: 905-546-2489 Provide as much information as you can, including: make/model or licence plate number of vehicles description of people any other information you think would help in an investigation Worker and site safety concerns Storage of construction material Dust Ontario’s Ministry of Labour Toll-free: 1-877-202-0008 TTY: 1-855-653-9260 No building permit issued or posted, deviation from approved building permit Protective fencing (missing, incomplete, hazardous) Building Division Phone: 905-546-2720 Email: [email protected] Grading and drainage of property where Site Alteration Permit is required Growth Management Division Phone: 905-546-2424, ext. 5339 Email: [email protected] Parking concerns on public property (streets) Idling vehicles Parking Office Phone: 905-540-6000 Email: [email protected]

Licensing & By-law Services Division Online: Municipal By-law complaint form Phone: 905-546-2782 Email: [email protected] Include your contact information, address of the concern, the nature of the concern, and details such as dates and times.