Blog > What utilities and services do I need to set up when moving to Markham, Ontario?
What utilities and services do I need to set up when moving to Markham, Ontario?
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What utilities and services do I need to set up when moving to Markham, Ontario?
New Markham homeowners need to open five accounts: electricity with Alectra Utilities, natural gas with Enbridge Gas, internet with Rogers, Bell or a local provider, property tax with the City of Markham, and home insurance before closing. The detail most new owners miss is that Alectra bills water, wastewater and stormwater on the same bill as hydro, and Markham and Vaughan customers must submit a water meter reading on the service start date. Alectra requires at least seven business days notice to open, close or transfer an account, so start the process a week before closing.
Your Two Week Markham Move In Checklist
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| Before firm closing | Bind home insurance. Every mortgage lender requires it as a funding condition. |
| 10 to 14 days before | Submit Alectra Start Service form for the new address and Stop Service for the old one |
| 10 to 14 days before | Open the Enbridge Gas account |
| 10 to 14 days before | Book internet installation. Appointment windows fill quickly. |
| 7 days before | Start Canada Post mail forwarding |
| Closing day | Read the water meter and submit the reading to Alectra |
| Within 6 days | Update driver's licence and vehicle permit address with ServiceOntario |
| Within 30 days | Update health card address. Register pets with the City of Markham. |
| First month | Register on ePropertyTax, set up pre authorized tax payments, get a library card |
Electricity and Water: One Bill, One Provider
Markham's local electricity distributor is Alectra Utilities. Alectra also invoices water, wastewater and stormwater for Markham on the same bill, which surprises most people moving in from outside York Region.
What to know before you call:
- Notice period: at least seven business days to open, close or transfer service
- Identification required: a Canadian driver's licence or Ontario Photo Card
- Account setup fee: an account setup or change of occupancy fee appears on the first bill
- Meter reading: Markham and Vaughan customers must provide a water meter reading on the service start date
- Moving within Markham: a move inside Alectra's territory requires both a Stop Service form for the old address and a Start Service form for the new one, and a new account number is issued, so pre authorized payment must be set up again
- Billing frequency: residential accounts are billed every two months
2026 water and wastewater rates
Markham's combined water and wastewater rate is $5.3694 per cubic metre, effective April 1, 2026, a 4.98 percent increase over 2025. A stormwater fee of $56 per residential property also applies. York Region is the wholesale water supplier, drawing from Lake Ontario.
Choosing an electricity rate plan
Ontario homeowners can choose among three plans and switch at any time through My Alectra. Current Regulated Price Plan rates, set November 1, 2025 and next changing November 1, 2026, are as follows.
| Plan | Rate |
|---|---|
| Time of Use, off peak | 9.8 cents per kWh |
| Time of Use, mid peak | 15.7 cents per kWh |
| Time of Use, on peak | 20.3 cents per kWh |
| Tiered, Tier 1 | 12.0 cents per kWh |
| Tiered, Tier 2 | 14.2 cents per kWh |
| Ultra Low Overnight, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 3.9 cents per kWh |
| Ultra Low Overnight, on peak | 39.1 cents per kWh |
Time of Use is the default. Its low price window runs 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily plus all day on weekends and holidays. Tiered thresholds for residential customers are 1,000 kWh per month in winter, November 1 to April 30, and 600 kWh per month in summer, May 1 to October 31.
Ultra Low Overnight suits a household that charges an electric vehicle overnight or runs laundry and dishwashers late. Its 39.1 cent on peak rate makes it a poor fit for a household home all day. The Ontario Energy Board's calculator at oeb.ca/choice compares plans against your actual usage.
The Ontario Electricity Rebate of 23.5 percent is applied before tax, worth roughly $36 per month on a 700 kWh household.
Natural Gas
Markham sits in the Enbridge Gas Distribution rate zone, on residential Rate 1. Enter your postal code at enbridgegas.com to confirm service and open an account online, or call 1-877-362-7434, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Homes without an existing service line use the Connect to Gas process instead.
Rates adjust quarterly in January, April, July and October, subject to Ontario Energy Board approval. The July 1, 2026 change increased residential bills by roughly $8 to $41 per year depending on rate zone. The federal carbon charge was removed effective April 1, 2025.
Internet and Television
Rogers serves Markham with download speeds up to 2 to 2.5 Gbps, using a hybrid fibre and coaxial network with fibre to the home available in newer areas. Bell offers home internet across Markham. CIK Telecom, headquartered in Markham, has deployed 10 Gbps fibre to thousands of Markham homes.
Third party providers including TekSavvy, Distributel, VMedia, Carrytel and Oxio resell capacity on the Rogers and Bell networks, often at lower prices with fewer promotional terms. Availability is address specific, so check by postal code before committing. Book installation two weeks ahead, since appointment windows in Markham fill quickly at month end.
Property Taxes
The City of Markham approved a 3.90 percent tax rate increase for 2026, which the city notes is the lowest average property tax rate increase across Greater Toronto Area municipalities in two decades. The average residential assessment is $822,671 and the total average bill is approximately $5,947.
That bill is split three ways: York Region takes 54.28 percent, the City of Markham 24.55 percent, and education 21.17 percent.
- Interim bill: mails in December or January
- Final bill: issued in June. Residential 2026 final instalments were due July 6 and August 5, 2026.
- Pre Authorized Tax Payment plans: residential owners choose 4, 6 or 11 instalments
- Penalty: 1.00 percent on unpaid instalments plus 1.25 percent monthly interest, which staff cannot waive
- New owners register and change ownership through markham.ca/ePropertyTax, free and available at any time. Administrative fees apply to new accounts and ownership transfers.
- Contact: 905.477.5530 or CustomerService@markham.ca
Address Changes and Registrations
Ontario sets firm deadlines that catch new homeowners off guard.
- Driver's licence and vehicle permit: within 6 days of moving. Update free at services.ontario.ca. The vehicle permit must be picked up in person.
- Health card: within 30 days. No new card is issued, since the address is not printed on it.
- Pet licensing: within 30 days. Mandatory in Markham for dogs 16 weeks and older and cats over three months, with proof of rabies vaccination. All licences expire December 31. Maximum four mature pets per household. Animal Care Services: 905.415.7531.
- Canada Post mail forwarding: a paid service, roughly $130 to $150 for twelve months residential
- Canada Revenue Agency: update through CRA My Account, which affects direct deposit for the Canada Child Benefit and GST HST credit
- Elections Canada and Elections Ontario: separate updates
Parking Rules Worth Knowing on Day One
Markham prohibits on street parking between 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. year round without a valid exemption or permit. This applies every night, not just in winter.
Overnight exemption requests can be submitted online for driveway repairs or out of town guests, but are not valid during winter maintenance operations. Monthly overnight parking permits are available to residents in approved zones only, are plate specific, are non refundable, and require proof of residency and vehicle registration. The portal is markham.gtechna.net, and questions go to MonthlyParking@markham.ca or 905.477.7000.
Library and Recreation
A Markham Public Library card is free for anyone who lives, works, attends school or owns property in Markham or York Region. Register in person at any branch with valid identification showing your current name and address.
City recreation memberships, effective September 1, 2026, run $63.09 per month for adults 18 and over, $44.17 for students and older adults 65 and over, $37.61 for youth 14 to 17, and $58.14 for an additional adult family member, plus tax. Membership covers five fitness centres at Aaniin, Centennial, Cornell, Markham Pan Am and Thornhill, plus three indoor tracks, five squash courts, group fitness, swimming and skating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides electricity in Markham, Ontario?
Alectra Utilities. Alectra also bills water, wastewater and stormwater on the same account, so Markham homeowners typically have one combined utility bill rather than separate hydro and water bills.
How far in advance should I set up utilities before moving to Markham?
At least seven business days for Alectra, and ideally ten to fourteen days for everything, since internet installation appointments book out quickly.
Do I need to submit a water meter reading when I move into a Markham home?
Yes. Alectra requires Markham and Vaughan customers to provide a water meter reading on the service start date.
What is the property tax rate in Markham for 2026?
The City of Markham approved a 3.90 percent increase for 2026. The average residential bill is approximately $5,947 on an average assessment of $822,671, split between York Region at 54.28 percent, the City at 24.55 percent and education at 21.17 percent.
Can I park on the street overnight in Markham?
Not without a permit or an approved exemption. On street parking is prohibited between 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. year round.
Moving to Markham? Start with someone who knows the city
Michael John Lau supports clients through closing and beyond, including the practical steps that make the first month in a new home go smoothly.
Disclaimer. Michael John Lau is a licensed REALTOR® serving buyers and sellers in Markham, Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. Rates, fees and requirements are current to September 2026 and are subject to change. Homeowners are encouraged to confirm current rates and requirements directly with Alectra Utilities, Enbridge Gas, the Ontario Energy Board and the City of Markham.