Reminder: Property tax bill due dates 
Interim 2026 tax bill installment due dates are February 27 and April 30, 2026. Interim tax bills are issued each January. All payments must be received by the City on or before the due date to avoid late payment fees of 1.25% per month. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage company or a pre-authorized payment plan, you will not receive an interim tax bill. Simplify your payments—join the Pre-Authorized Payment Plan and never worry about missing a due date!
Visit barrie.ca/PropertyTaxes for more information.
Barrie Winterfest returns February 7 & 8! 
Celebrate one of Ontario’s top winter festivals with two full days of seasonal fun at Centennial Park, downtown Barrie, and other venues across the city. Enjoy outdoor entertainment, activities, and watch professional ice sculptors create stunning works of art with this year’s theme: Tropical Beach. Programming runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Top off your Winterfest adventure with a visit to one of downtown Barrie’s many restaurants and cafés. For the full schedule of events, activities, and programs happening during Winterfest weekend, visit barrie.ca/Winterfest.
City offers incentives for creating additional residential units 
To support the creation of more affordable housing options in Barrie, the City is reducing
building permit application fees for additional residential units (ARUs) by 50% in 2026. Property owners can also receive a full rebate if the unit is occupied within one year of permit issuance. ARUs include basement apartments, in-law suites, coach houses, or additions to existing homes to make space for a new dwelling unit. The City has also launched standardized ARU designs to streamline the review and permitting process. Learn more about eligibility and access resources at barrie.ca/ARU
Last week for Christmas trees collection 
Place real Christmas trees curbside by 7 a.m. (4:30 a.m. in the downtown BIA) on your regular curbside collection day. Trees must be free of plastic wrap/bags, decorations, stands, and not placed on top of, or stuck into, snowbanks. Christmas trees will be collected before end of day Friday. Trees that are larger than 6 feet must be cut in half to fit in the collection truck. Residents can also drop off Christmas trees at the landfill for free.
Don’t flush wipes–even the ones labelled “flushable” 
Did you know that flushing wipes down the toilet can cause clogged pipes and costly sewer
backups? Face wipes, cleaning wipes, and baby wipes–even the ones labeled “flushable”–should never be flushed. Toilet paper is the only paper product that breaks down quickly in the wastewater system. Protect your home plumbing: wipes belong in the garbage. Watch this video to learn more about why it’s important to keep unflushable items out of the wastewater system. Not sure where to dispose of an item in Barrie? Look it up at barrie.ca/WasteItemLookUp.
Apply Now: Heritage Conservation Grant Program 
The City of Barrie is inviting property owners to apply for the Conservation of Built Heritage
Grant Program, which helps fund restoration and renovation projects for heritage properties. Funding covers up to 60% of eligible costs, up to $10,000. Eligible work includes restoration, necessary upgrades, energy efficiency improvements, and other conservation projects on heritage-listed or designated properties. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2026. Learn more and see eligibility requirements at barrie.ca/HeritageCIP
Presented by The City of Barrie
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of The City of Barrie and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of iPolitics.
