Understanding Industrial & Commercial Impacts

The City of Hamilton is running a pilot project to better manage how industrial and commercial properties affect nearby residential neighbourhoods. This project was approved by City Council in November 2023.

Why this matters

Industrial and commercial properties in Hamilton are governed by a mix of local by-laws and provincial regulations. These can include:

• The City’s Noise Control By-law
• Zoning By-laws
• Property Standards By-law
• Provincial regulations from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Ministry of Labour, and others

The many unique by-laws and regulations amongst several levels of government can make it confusing for residents to know who to call when there’s a problem, like excessive noise, dust, or odours from nearby businesses.

How it works now

If a resident reports a concern about an industrial or commercial property, a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer reviews it to see if it falls under a City by-law. If it does, the City investigates and follows up.

If the issue is something the City doesn’t have jurisdiction over, staff will help direct the complaint to the right provincial agency (like the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks).

We’re here to help simplify things

This pilot project aims to reduce confusion and relive the burden on residents to figure this out and allow our Municipal Law Enforcement team use their knowledge to best route the concern.

To report a concern:

• Call 905-546-2782, option 1
• Email mle@hamilton.ca
• Submit an online complaint

Please note: We respond to by-law complaints city-wide.

What we want to learn from you

The survey asked residents to share their experiences and feedback to help us:

• Improve how we respond to concerns
• Explore new processes or possible amendments to City by-laws and policies
• Strengthen relationships between businesses and the neighbourhoods around them

Your input will help us build a more responsive and effective by-law system. Thank you for participating.

Notice of Collection
The City of Hamilton collects information under the authority of Section 227 of the Municipal Act, 2001. Any personal information collected will be used to investigate complaints, identify by-law amendments, and collaborate with the provincial authorities to address complaints about the negative impact of commercial and industrial operation. Information collected for this initiative will be stored on servers located in Canada and subject to Canadian laws. Questions about the collection of this personal information can be directed to: Project Manager- Policy and Programs, Licensing & By-law Services. 330 Wentworth St N 2nd Floor, Hamilton ON, L8L 5W3, 905-546-2424 Ext. 4903, mle@hamilton.ca.