FAQ

Question: What are the safety tips for pedestrians and bikers  in the City?

With over 400km of on- and off- road bicycle routes and trails for commuting and recreational use, the City of Markham is a great place to explore by bicycle, on foot and other forms of active transportation! 

The City continues to deliver projects and programs to improve safe walking and cycling for people of all ages and abilities. A friendly reminder for everyone to:

• Be polite! Markham trails are for everyone to enjoy. Cyclists, yield to walkers, pass on the left and use your bell! Walkers, stay to the right and be alert.

• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible. If you need to walk on the street, walk facing traffic and as close to the road-side as you can.

• If you are planning a night-time walk or bike ride, reflective clothing, bike lights or a flashlight can help keep you safe.

For more useful info, safety tips, and to learn about some of the City’s walking and cycling initiatives, please visit www.markham.ca/walkingandcycling

Question: How can I use my home security camera to help law enforcements fight crime in my neighborhood?

The Security Camera Registry gives members of the community an option to let York Regional Police know they have installed residential or commercial security cameras which may assist police if a crime occurs in that area/community. The registry does not grant police direct access to your cameras--officers must still seek permission to view and use footage. For more information, please go to yrp.ca/RegisterMyCam

Question: What do I need to know about Winter parking?

Markham’s winter parking restrictions is now in effect. Between November 15 and April 15, you can only park on the ODD numbered side of the street (unless existing parking signs state otherwise). However, all parking (even permitted parking) on all streets is not allowed if there is a snowstorm. In addition, overnight-parking exemptions is not allowed during winter storms, so the online system is removed from the City’s website to avoid confusion. 

The fine for “Interfering with Snow Removal” is $150. For full parking information, visit markham.ca/winter and read How Markham Manages Snow Removal.

Questions: What do I need to know about garbage collection?

The City of Markham continues its commitment to environmental stewardship and cutting-edge waste management practices. After completing a comprehensive public procurement process in 2020, Markham Council awarded the new, eight-year collection contract to Miller Waste Systems. The new collection contract began on March 1, 2022, featuring a new fleet of 50 collection trucks.

The new contract includes many enhancements that benefit Markham residents. In anticipation of Ontario’s new provincial Blue Box legislation, Markham’s blue box recyclables will now be collected separately from green bin organics and clear bag garbage, by two separate trucks. All items Recyclables and organics will still be collected on the same day and there is no change to collection schedules. Green bin organics and clear bag garbage will be co-collected in a “rear load” truck that has two compartments keeping material separated.

Question: How can I find where to dispose my garbage? 

Not sure what to do with your clothing hanger, broken refrigerator or leftover motor oil? Or what about those old shoes you no longer wear? With Markham’s online search tool, simply enter your item to learn if it goes in the blue box, green bin or drop off at a depot for recycling.

Check it out at markham.ca/WhatGoesWhere

Question: Where can I dispose styrofoam food containers? 

Help protect the environment by keeping Styrofoam and plastics out of landfill and our waterways!

Styrofoam containers that are not free from food remnants or liquids go in Clear Bag Garbage.

Markham residents can drop off clean Styrofoam at any Markham Recycling Depot. Styrofoam is collected, processed and recycled into new products, like picture frames and crown moulding.

What’s Accepted:

• Food Containers - remove food, liquids and rinse clean before recycling

• Meat Trays (remove absorbent pads)

• Cups, bowls, plates

• Clamshell/burger box

• Egg cartons

• Takeout containers

• Large, rigid pieces of Styrofoam used as protective packaging for electronics and appliances (remove labels, tape and cardboard)

Not Accepted – place these items in Clear Bag Garbage

• Unwashed Styrofoam food containers

• Packing peanuts

• Flexible packing sheets

• Craft/florist foam

• Pool noodles

Question: Where can I recycle unwanted textiles?

The City of Markham’s award-winning textile recycling program has diverted over 20 million pounds (907,000 kg) of textiles since 2016. The textile program has been recognized with awards from both the Institute of Public Administration of Canada and the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators.

Drop off all your unwanted textiles at any of Markham’s 160 city-operated bins. If the bins are full, please consider driving to the next nearest textile donation bin, or holding onto your items until the bins have been serviced so that we can keep our neighbourhoods safe and beautiful!

Markham’s unique textile recycling program accepts all textiles. Items can be worn, torn, or stained. Even single socks and shoes are welcome! Please visit the City’s website for a full list of textiles that you can donate.

Question: What are allowed or not allowed for home-based business? 

In the past two years, we received a fair number of complaints regarding home-based businesses. Bear in mind that certain types of businesses can operate out of a home, but the City must also consider how such a business will affect neighbours.

Employees and Other Visitors

In addition to yourself, only one employee can be working out of your home; you must provide a parking space on your driveway that is always available for this person’s use. Teaching activities are limited to four students at a time. Mail-order sales are allowed, but other sales activities are limited only to items produced within your home; receipt or delivery of goods must involve nothing larger than trucks normally used for residential deliveries.

Doctors, dentists and drugless health practitioners may operate their business in the home where they live, but it must be located on a corner lot with frontage on a provincial highway or major road.

Businesses that cannot operate as a home-based enterprise include:

• Dating bureau/escort service

• Public bath/whirlpool

• Vehicle towing

• Contractor’s yard

• Taxi service

• Kennels and animal hospitals

• Adult entertainment parlour

• Retail store

• Take-out, fast food or other restaurant

• Sales/service of motorized vehicles, machinery or equipment, automotive and audio products and scrap yards.

If the business creates, or is likely to create, a nuisance or become offensive to neighbours, it will be prohibited.

For more information, please call the By-law Enforcement and Licensing Department at 905-479-7782 or email customerservice@markham.ca.

Question: What can I do on public nuisance from short term rentals in my neighborhood?

Markham City Council amended a series of Zoning By-Laws to define and effectively prohibit short-term rental accommodations within the City. Along with those amendments, Council passed a Public Nuisance By-law, which provides police and Markham By-law Enforcement Officers with additional enforcement options to address the negative impacts on neighbourhoods associated with some short-term rental accommodation operations (i.e. noise, littering, loitering, disorderly conduct). The City enforces short-term rental accommodations on an individual complaint basis. The enforcement process followed depends on the nature of the complaint received. The City’s By-Law Enforcement officers may enforce the Public Nuisance By-Law. However, through an understanding with York Regional Police, public nuisances relating to short-term rental accommodations (i.e. house parties) may also be investigated and prosecuted by the police. 

Learn more: https://www.markham.ca/wps/portal/home/about/city-hall/bylaws/bylaw 

Contact us: 905.477.7000 or customerservice@markham.ca 

Question: Can I play loud music at home?

With warmer weather approaching, a complaint we often receive is about noise. Please be considerate of your neighbours and keep the following in mind:

• Playing loud music outdoors is not allowed from 5:00 PM until 7:00 AM the following day (9:00 AM on Sunday). Shouting, whistling, and singing is not allowed after 11:00 PM. 

• All other loud noises, such as honking horns and electronic sounds, are not permitted after 7:00 PM or on Sundays or statutory holidays (provincial or federal). 

• The City has extended the permitted times allowed for amplified music and sound to 11:00 PM on both Fridays and Saturdays. As a result, both residential and special events that take place on Fridays and Saturdays and end prior to 11:00 PM will no longer require an exemption. 

Learn more about the Noise By-law by clicking on the ‘City Hall’ tab, and then click on ‘By-laws’ at markham.ca

Questions: I have overdues charges in Markham Public Library, do I need to worry about paying the fines? 

MPL has removed barriers to access and ensuring that children and teens will no longer be charged overdue fines for borrowed library materials that are returned late. To qualify, library users will need to update their library card profile by contacting the Library.

Questions: What can I do if I want to borrow the Library’s digital materials but do not want to go to library?

Celebrations continue with the launch of MPL’s new eCard. Residents who are reluctant to leave their homes during COVID-19 or who wish to only use the Library’s digital materials will no longer be required to visit a library branch to get a library card. Instead, they can apply for their eCard from the safety and comfort of their own home by visiting markhampubliclibrary.ca/eCard.

Question: Is there pathway in Risebrough Park able to access Birchmount Road?

I had made a request to staff to improve this specific pathway so that residents can better access Risebrough Park from Birchmount Road. I am happy to let you know that the pathway extension in Risebrough Park has been completed. I trust that it will be a positive addition to the park and that residents will be able to make good use of this pathway.

Questions: What are the criteria of getting the City’s Windrow Removal Service and what the service includes?

Currently Windrow Removal Service is available for seniors 60yrs of age and older and/or for physically challenged persons. Proof of identification and a valid doctor’s certificate is required for all persons living at the same address. The service includes clearing the centre portion of the driveway windrow (one car width), and does not include clearing the remainder of snow from private approaches to residence or driveways or the windrow left by the sidewalk plow. Windrows are currently cleared within 8 hours after crews plow the road. However, Council recently voted to have staff report back with more information in 2020 about shortening the time frame for clearing windrow

Question: Do you have cold air coming in from your walls, windows, or doors? 

Prevent heat loss by improving the insulation in your home. 

The Home Winterproofing Program from Enbridge Gas Inc. can help you lower your natural gas bill and make your home more comfortable. If your home and household income levels qualify, you’ll get free insulation, draft proofing and a smart thermostat to reduce energy costs up to 30%. 

Learn more about this program at yourvoicemarkham.ca and selecting Home Energy Retrofits. Under Rebates & Incentives, please click on Home Winterproofing for more details.

Question: Can I water my lawn anytime I want?

Our City’s water supply is regulated (Water Use By-law 2019-53) by restricting the watering of lawns between June 1st and September 30th of each year. No watering is permitted during the hottest hours of the day, when the sun is most likely to speed up its evaporation. Homeowners may choose to water their lawns between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM or between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, but not both.

• Homeowners and tenants of properties with an even-numbered street address can water their lawns on even-numbered days during this time.

• Homeowners and tenants of properties with an odd-numbered street address can water their lawns on odd-number days during this time.

Learn more at markham.ca.