Submitting a Claim to the City of St. Catharines

When submitting a claim, individuals are required to submit claims in writing by completing the attached Claim Form as soon as possible after the incident to ensure that a claim is not invalidated by a limitation period or other deadline, which can occur as early as 10 days from the incident.

Claimants are also asked to provide complete and precise details of the circumstances of the claim, as well as copies of all documentation that supports the claim, as this will reduce possible delays in seeking additional or clarifying information.

A complete review of a standard claim typically takes approximately 6-8 weeks. However, each individual claim varies, so we would ask for your patience in that regard.

Please note: This information is intended to provide claimants with an overview of the claims submission process and should not be considered as legal advice. Claimants requiring legal advice should consult their own advisors. 

How to Submit a Claim

Signed Claim Forms can be submitted online, by mail or in person.

Online

Complete our online claim form

By mail

Download our claim form, complete the form and mail the form to:              

City of St. Catharines
P.O. Box 3012
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2R 7C2
Attention: Legal Services

In person

Download our claim form, complete the form and bring the form to:              

City of St. Catharines
Legal and Clerks Services Department
50 Church Street, 3rd Floor
St. Catharines, Ontario

Please note that the City cannot accept claims by telephone, email, or fax. 

What to Include in Your Claim

Your claim must contain the following information:

• Your name;
• Your address;
• Phone number(s) where you can be reached;
• Email address, if available;
• A detailed description of what happened, outlining:
  • The specific damage;
  •  he name(s) of registered owner(s) of the vehicles/properties involved
  • The date, time and exact location of the incident;
  • Witnesses' names and addresses;
  • Details of any construction in the vicinity of the loss;
  • Any other information that may assist in the review of your claim;
• A detailed description of the damages or losses you are claiming together with copies of all repair invoices, estimates, receipts (when available) or other supporting documentation;
• You must date and sign the Claim Form.

Things to Consider When Submitting a Claim

1. Whether you have insurance coverage that might respond to the claim as this may be the most suitable way to recover your costs.
2. The City is not obliged to compensate for any losses or damages for which it is not legally liable. Also, the City expects that the claimant will provide substantiation for the claim to the satisfaction of the City. This approach attempts to reduce the number of unsubstantiated and frivolous claims which, in turn, reduces costs for the taxpaying public, who ultimately bear the cost of these claims.

What Happens After you Submit a Claim

When your claim is received, you will be sent a letter acknowledging receipt of your claim, at which time your claim will be forwarded to the City's insurance adjuster and the relevant department for review and response, which as mentioned, typically takes approximately 6-8 weeks.

If you require any further information with respect to submitting a claim, please contact Legal Services at 905-688-5601 ext. 1521.