You asked, we answered

Every month, the City of Vaughan highlights the commonly asked questions received by the public and responded to by Service Vaughan in a series called ‘You asked, we answered.’

Here are the top five inquiries from April: 

1. How can I report a sick, injured or dead animal? 

If you see a sick, injured or dead wild animal, report it to Vaughan Animal Services as soon as possible by: 

• calling 905-832-2281, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you’re calling after hours, press “0” to reach the after-hours dispatch team. Officers are available 24-7 to respond to calls about sick, injured or dead wildlife.
• emailing animal.services@vaughan.ca.

For more information, visit vaughan.ca/wildlife. 

2. Where do I report missed waste collection?

You can report missed organics, garbage and leaf and yard waste collection online at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan. You may also report missed waste collection by calling Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281. Green bin, garbage and yard waste items are collected on your scheduled collection day. Items should be placed at the curb in the morning and no later than 7 a.m. on the day of your scheduled collection. Collectors will not return for materials set out late. Visit vaughan.ca/waste to learn more about the City’s waste services.

If your blue box was missed, please contact Miller Waste Systems at 1-855-752-3762 or area10@millerwaste.ca.

Download the Recycle Coach app through the Apple App Store or Google Play for waste-less tips and a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to put at the curb each week.

3. When are my interim property taxes due and how can I pay them?

The 2026 interim property tax bills for residential and non-residential properties were mailed to all property owners in February. The final payment due date for all properties is Wednesday, May 27.

If you did not receive your tax bill in the mail, contact the City immediately by phone at 905-832-2281 or by email at service@vaughan.ca. Failure to receive a tax bill does not exempt you from paying property taxes – late payment penalties will be added.

As all City facilities are cashless, here’s how you can pay interim property tax bills:

• Pre-authorized payment plans, including a six-instalment and a 10-instalment option.
• Post-dated cheques made payable to the City of Vaughan that correspond with the amount and due dates printed on the tax stubs.
• Financial institutions, either in person, through the bank machine, online or via telephone.
• At Vaughan City Hall, placed in marked drop-off boxes at each entrance.
• By mail, with a cheque payable to the City of Vaughan and send in the return envelope enclosed with the tax bill.

To learn more, visit vaughan.ca/PropertyTax.

4. After I submit a tree maintenance service request (e.g. tree pruning or stump removal), how long will it take for City staff to visit the site?

Requests for urgent maintenance services that pose a danger to the public – such as a fallen tree – are dealt with as soon as possible. Non-emergency requests that follow our pruning schedule will be addressed accordingly, while all other requests will be managed in priority sequence, following an inspection. Once a service request is created, a forestry inspector will visit the site within 30 business days to examine the tree's condition and determine the next steps. If you submitted a request, the forestry inspector will contact you (by phone or leave a notice on your door) with the status of your request. Please note: it can take up to eight months for a tree to be pruned or removed, and an additional 12 months for a tree stump to be removed.

To learn more, visit vaughan.ca/trees.

5.  When does registration for summer recreation programs and summer camps open, and how can I register my kids?

Summer camp registration is open for the City’s one- and two-week summer camp sessions that run from late June through the end of August. Visit vaughan.ca/camps for all program information and to register. Summer camps begin on Monday, June 29 for children ages four to 16 years old. Programs are offered at community centres, parks and various facilities around the citymore than 100 camp options available in arts, sports, outdoor adventures, science and technology, and more.

The Summer Recreation eGuide will be available to view on Monday, May 4 at vaughan.ca/recreation with registration starting Thursday, May 21 at 7 a.m. Registration for summer swim lessons and aquatic leadership courses opens at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26. Visit vaughan.ca/swim for schedules and to register. Programming begins on Monday, June 29 at all community centres, the City Playhouse Theatre and the Vaughan Studios & Event Space, as well as a number of different outdoor locations. 

The online registration system is available 24-7. If you require assistance creating an online PerfectMind registration account, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281, email rec@vaughan.ca or watch this short informational video. Visit vaughan.ca/recreation for more information.

Have more questions? We’re here to help. The City’s contact centre can be reached by phone at 905-832-2281 (toll free at 1-844-832-2112), by email at service@vaughan.ca, online at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan or in person at Vaughan City Hall (2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.).

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