Approximately 46,000 residential property owners have not submitted their Vacant Unit Tax declaration as of March 23, according to a memo sent to Hamilton City Council by the City’s Director of Revenue Services Clayton Pereira.
The City estimates there are approximately 180,000 residential properties in Hamilton, meaning more than one-quarter of owners have not filed ahead of the April 15 deadline.
Property owners who fail to submit declarations will face a $250 late penalty. The VUT, calculated at one per cent of property value, will be automatically applied on May 15 to all properties without completed declarations.
2026 is the second year for the VUT.
Last year, the City stated that 6,409 properties failed to file a declaration. Once the City issues VUT bills, approximately 1,700 property appeals were filed between June and the beginning of September.
A total of 372 property owners voluntarily declared their properties vacant.
City Council renewed the VUT for 2026 in an 8–7 vote at the October 29, 2025, Council meeting. The tax was implemented to discourage property speculation and encourage more residential units to be rented rather than left vacant.
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Published: March 30, 2026
Last updated: March 30, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
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v. 1.0.0 original version