A Hamilton landlord has been convicted of running an illegal lodging house after he had nine tenants living in a single-family home.

Salvatore Curcio was found guilty of operating an illegal dwelling at 4 Forsyth Ave. N. The city has been investigating the property since January, 2013, when municipal law enforcement staff found occupants on single leases with the owner. The property is zoned as a single-family dwelling.

Curcio, a Burlington resident, was fined $4,255. He has 30 days from Feb. 3 to appeal.

The maximum fine for an initial zoning bylaw conviction is $25,000. For corporations, it’s $50,000.

Such bylaws protect the public, said Marty Hazell, the city’s senior director of parking and bylaw services.

“City staff will always respond to reports of properties operating outside their current permitted use,” he said in a media release.

Anyone with questions about bylaw or licensing can call the city at 905-546-2782 or email mle@hamilton.ca. The city also has a complaint form for potential bylaw infractions.