As of April 2025, the City of Hamilton is introducing a Vacant Unit Tax (VUT). This requires all owners of residential properties to submit an annual mandatory declaration on the status of their property. All 2024 residential property owners were required to submit their occupancy status online or by phone to the City of Hamilton, by April 30th, 2025. 

A property is considered vacant if it is unoccupied for more than 183 days in the previous calendar year or as defined under the by-law. If a property is declared vacant, the Vacant Unit Tax rate is one percent of the property’s current assessed value for vacant properties. There are some exemptions to this tax, including principal residences, death of an owner, major renovations (with a valid building permit), sale of the property, principal resident in care (hospitalized or in long-term/supportive care), court order, and non-profit housing.

This kind of tax is not new and many other Canadian cities such as Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver have implemented VUT programs as well. When the City conducted a VUT engagement survey in 2021 more than 91 per cent of respondents supported the idea of a VUT. The VUT program will help tackle the affordable housing crisis, and increase housing availability and affordability.

Learn more here: https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/property-taxes/vacant-unit-tax