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Home > Services > Residential Services > Water Services > Water shut off and turn on
Water Shut Off and Turn On
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Curb box
Water shut off and turn on
Fees
Completing a large landscape project
Vaughan's responsibility versus homeowner's responsibility

Curb box

Every property in Vaughan has a curb box (commonly referred to as a water service valve) at the property line that controls the water running to a home or building from the City's watermain. This outdoor shut off is in addition to the one you have in your home.  
 
The curb box is a round metal plate approximately 10 centimetres in diameter located on the front lawn, driveway or sidewalk of a property and is owned and operated by the City. It is the property owner's responsibility to maintain access to the curb box.  
 
The City of Vaughan does not re-locate curb boxes. If a curb box must be moved due to a renovation or rebuild, a new water service connection is needed. An application can be made for a residential service connection request. If a curb box requires repair or needs to be lowered please submit a request online.
    
curb box
 Example of a curb box that needs repair 


Door Notice
Door notice
Have you received a door notice? To ensure the safety and well-being of citizens, the City must complete routine scheduled maintenance. The Environmental Services department often uses public  notices delivered directly to the door to inform residents about various work throughout the year. 

The most common types used by this department are:
• curb box repair and after-care instructions
• flushing and swabbing lines as part of scheduled maintenance
• water shut off notices 
 
For more information, contact Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.

 

 
Water shut off and turn on
Property owners can request to turn City of Vaughan's water supply on or off to complete repairs or renovate a home or building. 
 
Submit a non-emergency request four to six weeks before shut off or turn on is required to allow for scheduling. Complete this request using one of the following two options:

 
  • Submit a service request online
  • Call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or email service@vaughan.ca
  • How-to submit a water shut off/turn on application and payment online 
    • Residential request (PDF)
    • Multi Residential and ICI request (PDF)
If you have an emergency leak or a pipe has burst from a City watermain, contact Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.

Fees

There is a fee for both a water turn on and/or water shut off.
 
  • Submit a request online
  • How-to submit a water shut off/turn on application and payment online
    • Residential request (PDF)
    • Multi Residential and ICI request (PDF)
Please refer to the price chart below. Rates quoted from By-law 197-2020 (PDF).
 
​Regular hours (Residential, Multi-Residential and Businesses)
Cost​​
​Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 pm
  $157 turn on/off
 
After hours
Cost
Any time other than office hours
(including weekends and holidays)
 $238 turn on/off
 

Completing a large landscape project

If you are paving, resurfacing, excavating or landscaping your driveway or front lawn, never touch or cover your curb box. 
 
To avoid unnecessary damage and costly repairs, follow these steps before your renovation work begins:
  1. If you are excavating, locate all your utility lines first. Contact Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255 to schedule an inspection. Under Ontario regulations, this is the law.
    Contact us a minimum of 2 weeks before work begins
  2. A minimum of two weeks before work begins, request an inspection. Submit a curb box inspection request online or call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.

  3. A water operator will come and locate any curb boxes that are under your driveway or property.
It is the responsibility of the property owner to contact the City for inspection. A contractor is not authorized to complete this work. If the curb box gets damaged by contractors, the City will make the repairs and property owners will be charged for the damage to City property. 

To report a municipal emergency or problem that requires immediate attention, such as a leaking curb box, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
 

Unless an appointment has been scheduled with the City and entry by staff has been agreed upon in advance, City staff do not enter a home or business to perform these water services. Instead, this work is conducted outside of the home or business.

Visit the Ministry of Consumer Services website for information on door-to-door sale scams and home services. To make a formal complaint regarding an encounter you may have had, please contact the Consumer Services Bureau at 416-326-8800 or (toll-free) 1-800-889-9768. If you feel threatened or concerned for your safety, call 911.  

Vaughan's responsibility versus homeowner's responsibility

The City is responsible for the public portion of the water distribution system, running from the water main to the municipal property line. Beyond the property line is the private portion of the system and is the responsibility of the homeowner.  
 
Image and text of how curb box is connected to a home (PDF)
 

 Contact Information

 

Environmental Services

Phone: 905-832-2281

Fax: 905-303-2005

Email: service@vaughan.ca 

Location: 
Joint Operations Centre
2800 Rutherford Rd.

Vaughan, ON 
L4K 2N9
 
Hours of operation:
Monday to Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Page Content 2
 

 Related Links

 
  • Bulk water stations
  • Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF) projects
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Hydrant meter rentals
  • Outdoor water use and restrictions
  • Rent The Water Cooler
  • Curb cuts and driveway widenings
  • Water shut off - Curb box - online service request
 

 Additional Resources

 
  • Fire Watch (PDF)
  • Water By-law 106-2022 (PDF)
  • Water conservation brochure (PDF)
  • Water usage calculator
  • Water Wise brochure (PDF)
  • York Region private well water testing
  • York Region Water Services

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