Hamilton and neighbouring Brampton are lovely Canadian cities in the Greater Toronto Area; great locations for families. Moving anywhere can be challenging though, so here are a few tips to get you started once you arrive:
Garbage Laws
Hamilton has two bins, green and blue. The Green is for compost and organic waste (how cool is that?) and the blue is for recycling. Which day each of them will come depends on your neighbourhood.
Whatever day is your garbage day, be careful – each household is allowed one bag of garbage per week – all additional bags must be paid for.
At the beginning of each year you’ll be given your annual allotment of bags, and if you go over – you’ll have to buy extra. No garbage will be collected that is not in a municipally issued bag.
Idling
Your Hamilton movers can confirm that vehicles within Hamilton cannot idle their cars for more than 3 consecutive minutes in a 60 minute period. Always fully park your car and turn off the gas. You’ll be saving money as well as the environment!
Carbon Monoxide
Here’s an interesting fact – Brampton has a by-law that requires residential homes to have a carbon monoxide detector that sounds off if you have too much carbon monoxide in your home. Most cities in Ontario don’t have this by-law, so it’s something to be prepared for when you first move to town. While many homes come with one already installed (like fire alarms) you may be required to purchase your own. When you first get to town, ask your Brampton movers where in the house it might be located so you can check - a local Brampton mover should know!
Dog Licensing
Both Hamilton and Brampton require your dog to be licensed, and prohibit dogs from running around without leashes and collars in most areas. Both cities have several parks and dog runs where dogs can frolic off-leash, but you’ll still be responsible for droppings.
Pool Fences
Pools, hot tubs and Jacuzzis all have to be fully enclosed by fences in both Hamilton and Brampton. This was decided by the municipal councils as a means of protecting young children. Keep this in mind when shopping for properties.
