Property tax in Hamilton: 2026 rates and due dates

What is the 2026 residential property tax rate in Hamilton?

It depends on where you live. Every residential property pays the city-wide general rates: municipal 0.612 per cent, provincially shared services 0.201 per cent, police 0.244 per cent and education 0.153 per cent. Area rates for transit, fire and a third area levy are then added according to your former community and whether you have transit and full-time, composite or volunteer fire service. The City's 2026 totals for urban homes run from 1.306 per cent (urban Stoney Creek with volunteer fire) to 1.557 per cent (urban Hamilton with full-time fire).

These are the City's 2026 final residential rates, applied to your property's assessed value. Rural rates and other fire categories differ; the City's page lists every combination and the rates for other property classes.

• All 2026 rates by community and class

Source: City of Hamilton, How Property Tax Rates are Calculated

What does that mean for a typical home?

The City works its examples on a home assessed at $387,100. At the 2026 urban Hamilton rate with full-time fire service, 1.557 per cent, that home pays $6,028 in total property tax; the same home in urban Stoney Creek with full-time fire pays $5,497, and in urban Flamborough with composite fire $5,106.

Source: City of Hamilton, How Property Tax Rates are Calculated

What does each part of the rate pay for?

The general (municipal) rate funds most City services and some outside agencies, including the conservation authorities and the library board. The provincially shared services rate funds services the Province subsidizes, such as paramedics, social housing, support payments and public health. The police rate funds the Hamilton Police Service. Area rates cover transit, fire, parkland and special capital infrastructure where they apply. The Province sets the education rate, which the City collects and passes to the school boards.

Source: City of Hamilton, How Property Tax Rates are Calculated

How much did Hamilton's 2026 budget raise property tax?

The City adopted its 2026 tax budget on 24 February 2026 with a 3.87 per cent residential tax increase, or about $209 for the average home. The Mayor's proposed budget in January had a 4.25 per cent increase. The adopted budget includes $622 million in infrastructure investment.

Hamilton prepares two budgets each year: the tax budget, funded largely by property tax, and a separate water (rate) budget for water, wastewater and stormwater.

• 2026 Budget and Financing Plan (PDF, 34.5 MB)

Source: City of Hamilton, 2026 Tax & Water (Rate) Budget

When is property tax due?

The City bills twice a year. The interim bill, half of last year's total taxes, has instalments due on the last business day of February and April. The final bill, which carries the whole year's increase, has instalments due on the last business day of June and September.

The City's pages differ on when the bills are mailed: the property taxes page says early February and early June, while the tax rates page says January and May. The due dates are the same on both.

Source: City of Hamilton, How Property Tax Rates are Calculated

How can I pay my Hamilton property tax?

By pre-authorized debit, with 12-month, 10-month and instalment-date plans. At a bank, or through telephone or online banking with the payee HAMILTON (CITY) - TAXES and the first 11 digits of the roll number on your bill. By cheque payable to the City of Hamilton, mailed to Corporate Services, Taxation Division, 71 Main Street West, PO Box 2040 STN LCD 1, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 0A3, or left with your stubs in a drop box at City Hall or a Municipal Service Centre. In person by cash, cheque or debit; credit cards are not accepted.

If you sell and move within Hamilton, update the 11-digit roll number with your bank: it belongs to the property, not to you.

• Municipal Service Centres

Source: City of Hamilton, Pay Your Property Tax

Can I get my tax bill by email?

Yes. Register for the City's property tax eBilling portal to receive your bills electronically; once enrolled, all future bills arrive that way until you cancel or sell the property.

• Property tax eBilling

Source: City of Hamilton, Property Taxes