Machinery of the City of Zurich

Anyone disposing of waste in the City of Zurich separates it by type: household refuse goes in the official, chargeable waste bag and is collected on the collection day; recyclables such as paper, cardboard, glass and metal are collected separately; bulky and hazardous waste have their own routes. Collection days are listed in the waste calendar of ERZ – Disposal + Recycling Zurich.

Building-permit workflow in the City of Zurich under the cantonal Planning and Building Act, including public notice, objections, decision and appeal.

To document whether a person or company at an address has faced debt enforcement, you order an extract from the debt enforcement register at the responsible municipal enforcement office – online, by mail or at the counter. A copy of an official ID must be enclosed.

Anyone who finds something in the City of Zurich reports or hands it to the city police's lost property office; anyone who has lost something files a search request. Found items are recorded and kept for a statutory period.

Couples wishing to marry in the City of Zurich first go through the marriage-preparation procedure at the civil registry office: they submit an application with the required documents, and the office checks their capacity to marry. After preparation is complete, the ceremony takes place before two witnesses of legal age; finally the office issues the marriage certificate.

Anyone keeping a dog in the City of Zurich must register it in the national dog database AMICUS and with the tax office's dog registry. The dog tax is levied annually.

Parents in the City of Zurich find a daycare place and apply for an income-based childcare subsidy that lowers their contribution. Responsibility is split: the income-based contribution factor is determined via the School and Sports Department (school office), while financing and payment of the subsidy to the daycare centre runs through the Social Welfare Department.

Trams and buses in Zurich are operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ); tickets and passes apply within the ZVV fare network. They are bought online in the ZVV shop or with personal advice at the VBZ advisory centres. Personal passes are stored on the SwissPass.

Process for obtaining a resident parking permit in the City of Zurich. Grants permanent parking rights within one's own blue zone. Fully digital since 2023 — the licence plate is registered in the control system, no physical badge.

Residents of the City of Zurich who need a Swiss passport or an identity card (ID) apply via the federal application portal. The passport and the combined offer (passport + ID) require a biometric capture at the cantonal biometrics centre; an ID on its own can be ordered without biometrics at the population office. The documents are produced centrally and delivered by post.

People who cannot cover their living costs from their own means can apply for social assistance at the City of Zurich's Social Services. The social centre of one's residential district is responsible. Amount and entitlement follow the SKOS guidelines and the cantonal social assistance act.

Natural persons in the City of Zurich file an annual tax return with the tax office — online via ZHprivateTax or on paper. The deadline can be extended if needed. The tax office assesses the return and issues the final invoice; an objection against the assessment is possible. Finally, the taxes are paid within the deadline.

When moving, electricity must be registered and deregistered separately with the City of Zurich's electricity utility (ewz) – registering with the residents' registration office is not enough. The move is reported online via the ewz account.

If you are disturbed by noise, you contact the right office depending on the type of noise: the police help with acute noise, while the City of Zurich's environmental and health protection unit handles noise from stationary installations (commercial, ventilation, heating and air-conditioning systems).

Anyone moving to or within the City of Zurich must register or update their address with the population office within the statutory deadline. Largely online via eUmzugCH for Swiss citizens; foreign nationals have additional steps.

Anyone holding an event on public ground in the City of Zurich (festival, market, street party, outdoor catering, demonstration) needs a permit from the city police. Depending on the plan, specialist offices (noise, traffic, waste, alcohol) are involved.

Zurich's tap water is continuously monitored by Wasserversorgung Zürich and additionally checked by the independent cantonal laboratories. Anyone wanting to verify the quality can find the measurements publicly – the raw data is available in the city's open data catalogue.