Hamilton launches new vacant unit tax, declarations due by April 30

The City of Hamilton’s new vacant unit tax declaration period has begun, with property owners needing to declare occupancy status by April 30.

According to the tax, all residential property owners are required to declare the occupancy status of their properties for the 2024 tax year by the deadline.

Failure to submit a declaration will result in the residential unit being deemed vacant, and the vacant unit tax will be applied.

The city considers a property that is unoccupied for more than 183 days in the previous calendar year as vacant.

The new tax is part of the city’s efforts to address its affordable housing crisis.

The city says the program aims to encourage residential property owners to occupy or rent their properties rather than leaving them empty.

City staff says following the recovery of administrative costs, revenues generated from the tax will be reinvested into affordable housing initiatives.

A press release from the city quotes Mayor Andrea Horwath saying the new tax is Hamilton’s clear example to their commitment to tackle the affordable housing crisis.

“We are doing everything in our power to increase housing availability and affordability for Hamiltonians, and this program is just one of many tools we’re using to ensure everyone in our city has a place to call home,” reads the release.

The vacant unit tax rate, applied to properties that are declared vacant, is one per cent of the property’s current assessed value.

That amount will be added to the final property tax bills mailed in June, 2025.

Residents can submit their vacant unit tax declaration online here.

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