Heritage district windows
Designated or in a heritage district? What needs a Heritage Permit, removable storms included, what usually doesn't, and the grants for owners.
Read guide: Heritage district windowsHamilton guides
Guides for Hamilton homeowners, landlords and businesses
Three guides for window questions particular to Hamilton, Ontario: whether to fix the window you've got, what a heritage district means for windows and storms, and what the rental licence means for landlords. Each links the City pages that set the rules. When you want a price, we connect you with an independent local glass pro who measures, quotes and does the work.
Rental licensing and windows
For landlords in the licensed wards: bedroom egress, safety glass, screens and locks, and fitting window work into turnover.
Read guide: Rental licensing and windows
Repair or replace?
A Lower City sash, a Mountain slider and a newer sealed unit: how to choose between a fix and a new window, with rebates and permits.
Read guide: Repair or replace?Repair or replace?
Hamilton's houses are older than its neighbours', and the City's own heritage staff argue for repairing original windows and adding storms. The repair-or-replace guide follows a Lower City sash, a slider on the Mountain and a newer sealed unit to show where a fix is enough. Already set on new windows? See replacement windows.
Heritage districts and designated homes
If your house is designated, or sits in a district like Durand-Markland or Mill Street in Waterdown, replacing windows, doors or even removable storms needs a Heritage Permit first. Fixing a broken pane usually doesn't. The heritage districts guide covers checking your address, the new Melville-Park West district in Dundas, applying and grants.
Rental licensing and window standards
Rental housing licensing is now permanent in Wards 1, 8 and parts of 14. The landlord's guide to rental licensing covers the window and door side of getting a unit ready: bedroom windows that work as a way out, safety glass, screens and locks, and fitting the work into turnover.
Permits and rebates at a glance
The short version, with the page that decides each:
- Same size, same spot. No building permit where no fire-resistance rating is required. New, bigger or moved openings need one. City building permits
- Designated or in a district. A Heritage Permit before replacing or adding windows, doors or storms. No fee. City Heritage Permits and the heritage map
- Rentals in the licensed wards. City Rental Housing Licence
- Provincial rebate. Per opening, for ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors. Glass-only work doesn't qualify. Home Renovation Savings
- City money. Nothing for ordinary replacement; heritage grants and loans for designated owners. City heritage windows
Programs change, so read the linked pages before you book. More short answers are on the FAQ page, or put your own question in a quote request.
Glossary: thermopane, sash, sealed unit, Low-E, the Mountain vs Lower City
- Sealed unit. Panes sealed together at the edge; many here say thermopane or thermal pane.
- Sash. The part that holds the glass and moves.
- Storms. A second window added inside or outside an existing one.
- Low-E. A thin coating on the glass that reflects heat.
- The Mountain and the Lower City. The escarpment splits the city. The Lower City sits below; the Mountain is on top, windier and snowier, with Upper James dividing east from west.
Common questions
Where do heritage grants fit in with the provincial window rebate?
They're separate programs for different jobs. The provincial Home Renovation Savings rebate pays per opening for new ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors, and a glass-only repair doesn't count. The City's heritage grants and interest-free loans are only for designated properties. For an ordinary house, the City has nothing for window replacement.
Do Burlington and Grimsby follow Hamilton's permit rules?
No. Burlington and Grimsby have their own permit offices, so Hamilton's building and heritage pages don't apply there. The former towns that joined Hamilton in 2001, such as Dundas, Ancaster and Stoney Creek, do follow Hamilton's rules. In Burlington, check with that city before a window change.
Is my rental in Hamilton's licensing area?
It may be, if it's in Ward 1, Ward 8 or the covered part of Ward 14 and has five or fewer units. Ward lines don't follow neighbourhood names, so look up the address on the City's Rental Housing Licence page. The rental licensing guide covers what that means for windows, screens and doors.
What's the difference between a sealed unit, a thermopane and a thermal pane?
In practice, nothing. All three mean panes of glass sealed together at the edge with a gap between. Sealed unit is the trade term; thermopane and thermal pane are what plenty of Hamilton people say. When the seal fails, moisture gets in and the glass fogs. The foggy window page explains the usual fix.