Departments and Divisions

Explore the City of Burlington’s departments and divisions, learn about their roles and responsibilities, and discover the services they provide.

Chief Administrative Officer

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is responsible for providing corporate leadership for the general management of the corporation as well as participating in the overall stewardship of the municipality.

The CAO reports directly to Council and oversees the following City departments and divisions.

Roles and Responsibilities

Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the City’s departments and divisions.

Responsible for:

  • Building code information
  • Building inspections
  • Business licensing
  • Building, plumbing, heating, swimming pool, septic system and sign permits

Responsible for:

  • Addressing multiple areas of municipal strategic land management including acquisition and development.
  • Achieving tangible and measurable community benefits and returns in three areas: supporting economic growth and direct job creation, completing “city building” projects and delivering much needed affordable housing.

Responsible for:

  • By-law enforcement
  • Including by-law complaints and investigations

The City Auditor is independent of the City of Burlington administration and reports directly to City Council through the Audit Committee, ensuring its work is completed freely and objectively.

Audits typically answer questions around:

  • Efficiency and effectiveness of city operations and program delivery
  • Safeguarding of assets
  • Integrity and reliability of financial and operational information
  • Compliance with laws and regulations

Responsible for our brand and reputation management. Their roles include:

  • Developing and implementing public engagement programs
  • Developing a variety of communications materials, including print, web, video and social media
  • Media relations

Responsible for:

  • Niagara Escarpment Commission applications
  • Our Official Plan and other planning policies that provide guidance for City development
  • Parkway belt applications
  • Rezoning applications
  • Site plan applications
  • Subdivision and condominium applications

Responsible for:

  • Unifying City’s customer service initiatives.
  • Improving and transforming our customers’ overall experience at the City.

Responsible for:

  • Design and construction of new facilities and capital renewal of existing facilities and building systems
  • Long-term facility asset management and capital planning
  • Energy management, monitoring and reporting, including the Climate Action Plan, the Corporate Energy and Emissions Management Plan and the Climate Resilient Burlington – A Plan for Adapting to Our Warmer Wetter and Wilder Weather
  • Support corporate environmental sustainability initiatives

Responsible for managing:

  • Design and construction of city infrastructure including roads, active transportation, parks, open spaces, bridges, sewers and facilities
  • Corporate asset management and public works capital planning
  • Infrastructure related policy development
  • Engineering review for subdivisions, site plans and re-zoning applications
  • Administer approvals including: Site Alteration Permit, Grading and Drainage Clearance Certificate, Storm Sewer Discharge Permit, Driveway Permit, Municipal Consent
  • Geomatics
  • Environmental issues
  • Accessibility

Responsible for financial and accounting management including:

  • Budgets
  • Collecting taxes and other revenues
  • Financial reporting
  • Tax certificates and assessment review
  • Tenders and general purchasing

Responsible for:

  • Fire prevention education
  • Fire safety inspections
  • The prevention and suppression of fires
  • Emergency and rescue services

Responsible for:

  • Providing advocacy and advice for the City of Burlington’s relations with all levels of government.
  • Developing relationships and seeking funding with key government stakeholders to advance the city’s strategic priorities.

Responsible for:

  • Attracting and retaining City employees
  • Employee benefits
  • Employee health and safety
  • Pay research
  • Staff and labour relations
  • Staff training and development

Responsible for internal technical support, including:

  • Business application management and support
  • Desktop hardware and software support
  • Security
  • Training and general consulting

Information Technology Services also manages the City's:

  • Data centres
  • Email
  • Internet access
  • Network
  • Telephone systems

Responsible for:

  • Negotiating development and subdivision agreements
  • Preparing business contracts
  • Representing the City before the Ontario Municipal Board and courts

Responsible for:

  • Assessment rolls and bylaws
  • Maintaining corporate records
  • Conducting municipal elections
  • Providing commissioner of oath services
  • Providing support for Council and Committees

Responsible for all matters relating to:

  • Parks and facilities
  • Recreation and culture services

Responsible for the maintenance of:

  • Streets and sidewalks
  • Parks and playgrounds
  • Storm sewers and creeks
  • Snow clearing
  • Forestry
  • Cemetery operations
  • City signs production
  • Fleet services

Responsible for managing:

  • Transit route network including scheduling, operations and maintenance of transit vehicles.
  • Handi-Van paratransit system

Responsible for:

  • Providing ongoing support and coordination of the vision, mission, values, goals and objectives in the City’s strategic planning.
  • Building capabilities within the organization, through leadership and support of enterprise approaches, in innovation, project management, change and continuous improvement.
  • Improving the effectiveness of governance processes.
  • Supporting the organization in the identification, assessment, and reporting of risks to strengthen the achievement of the City’s strategic priorities.

Responsible for the delivery of various road-related services. These services include:

  • The traffic signal system
  • Traffic services
  • Transportation planning
  • Parking bylaw enforcement
  • Downtown parking

Contact Us


City of Burlington
426 Brant St., PO Box 5013,
Burlington, ON  L7R 3Z6

Phone: 905-335-7777
Toll Free: 1-877-213-3609
Email: city@burlington.ca