COVID-19 Information & Updates

City Hall

City Hall is closed to the public. Community members can continue to do business with the City online or over the phone. Residents can submit many common requests and report issues at www.ServiceOshawa.ca. Additional online applications and payment options are available at www.oshawa.ca. 

Service Oshawa continues to be available to customers via phone, email and live chat during their regular hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be contacted by live chat at www.oshawa.ca, phone at 905-436-3311 and email at [email protected].

City Facilities 

The City’s community and recreation facilities (listed below) are closed to the public. All recreation programs, including facility rentals are cancelled further notice.

• Arts Resource Centre
• Children’s Arena
• Civic Recreation Complex
• Columbus Community Centre
• Delpark Homes Centre
• Donevan Recreation Complex
• Harman Park Arena
• Northview Community Centre
• South Oshawa Community Centre

Please note that registrants and facility permit holders will receive a full refund. For more information related to refunds, registration, membership, rentals and facility permits view our frequently asked questions webpage.

Outdoor Facilities

The following City outdoor facilities are closed to public use until further notice:

• Playgrounds
• Sports fields and ball diamonds
• Courts (including Pickle Ball, Tennis and Basketball courts)
• Skate parks
• Park washroom facilities
• Harmony Valley off-leash dog park
• Lakeview Park Beach area
• Community gardens

Community members are welcome to use Oshawa’s open park spaces and trails for walk through access however, we remind you to adhere to orders from the Ontario Government, including limiting gatherings of more than five people and practicing physical distancing.

Oshawa Animal Services

In-person services at Oshawa Animal Services are closed and animal adoptions at the shelter location are suspended until further notice. Oshawa Animal Services staff will continue to provide excellent care to our animals. The care of our animals remains our top priority and the Oshawa Animal Services team will be onsite daily ensuring their needs are met. Lost pets and animals at risk will still be welcome.

Animal adoptions are virtual ONLY until further notice. For a list of available adoptables through virtual adoptions please visit: www.oshawa.ca/Adoption.

For further information, to report a lost/found pet or licensing services via telephone contact Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311 or view Service Oshawa online options.

The following animal related services continue to be offered by Municipal Law Enforcement:

• Pick up of sick/injured/aggressive domestic animals and wildlife
• Aggressive animals
• Dogs running at large
• Dog bite investigations
• Pick up of confined stray animals
• Pick up of diseased wildlife and stray animals

Oshawa Executive Airport Terminal Building

Currently, the Oshawa Executive Airport Terminal building is closed to the public. The Regional municipalities, including the City of Oshawa, are following recommendations provided by Durham Region Health Department, the Province of Ontario and the Federal Government.

Other Facilities

• OSCC55+ Oshawa Senior Community Centres
• Oshawa Public Libraries
• Tribute Communities Centre 

Waste Collection

Recognizing that more community members and their families are staying home, which generates more waste, the City has increased the four-bag limit to six bags for garbage collection and waived the requirement for garbage bag tags. At this time, this is in effect until further notice. We encourage residents to continue to practice waste reduction by utilizing their blue boxes and green bins. 

Yard waste collection occurs every other week on the same day as your garbage is collected from mid-April until the end of November. Residents should check the Waste Collection Calendar and Information Guide for details about collection and to verify start and end dates. 

The Region of Durham’s Region Waste Management facility located at 1640 Ritson Road North remains open but will only accept debit and credit card payments (no cash).  

Fire Services

Oshawa’s fire stations have been closed to the public to protect our first responders, but Oshawa Fire Services continues to stand ready to respond to fire emergencies.

Licensing – Business, Taxi and Animal 

Business, taxi and animal licences due to expire at the end of March and April have been extended to May 31 to allow individuals and businesses more time to submit and process these applications.

Marriage Licences

Oshawa City Hall is temporarily closed to the public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the issuance of Marriage Licences  and new civil marriage ceremony bookings are suspended until further notice.

To support residents and businesses during this difficult time, the City of Oshawa is waiving tax payment penalties and interest for 60 days for all residents and businesses, effective with the April tax installment.

The two-month grace period, until June 30, is for the April 27, 2020 installment with no penalties or interest charged. Insufficient funds and pre-authorized payment related fees will be waived.

All pre-authorized payment plan changes must be in writing. Requests can be made by:

• email to [email protected]; or,
• mail to City of Oshawa, City Hall, Tax Services, 50 Centre. St. S., Oshawa ON L1H 3Z7.

Additionally, the first installment of the final residential billing scheduled for June 26, 2020 will be delayed by one month to July 24, 2020. The first installment of the Final Billing for Commercial properties is July 27, 2020.

There are a number of ways to pay your tax bill.

1. Sign up for our Pre-authorized Payment Plan;
2. By mail (cheque only);
3. By external drop box located outside the main entrance on the south side of City Hall (cheque only);
4. At most chartered banks and financial institutions in person, by telephone banking or online banking (subject to bank charges if applicable);
5. Through a mortgage company; if you pay your property taxes to a mortgage company, the company submits the payment to the City on your behalf.

Learn more on our frequently asked questions webpage.

Meeting Cancellations

The City of Oshawa has cancelled for the month of April its Standing Committee and Advisory Committee meetings, as well as workshops related to the development of the draft 2020-2024 Airport Business Plan. The City is closely monitoring developments and reassessing on a daily basis. 

At this time, the following meetings are cancelled:

• Oshawa Active Transportation Advisory Committee, April 1, 2020, 6:30 p.m.
• April 6, 2020 – 9:30 a.m. – Corporate Services Committee Meeting
• April 6, 2020 – 1:30 p.m. – Development Services Committee Meeting
• April 6, 2020 – 6:30 p.m. – Planning Act Public Meeting
• April 7, 2020 – 6:30 p.m. – Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting
• April 20, 2020 – 9:30 a.m. – Community Services Committee Meeting
• April 20, 2020 – 1:30 p.m. – Finance Committee Meeting
• April 21, 2020 – 6:30 p.m. – Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting
• April 22, 2020 – 6:00 p.m. – Committee of Adjustment Meeting
• April 23, 2020 – 6:30 p.m. – Heritage Oshawa Meeting
• April 28, 2020 – 6:30 p.m. – Oshawa Animal Care Advisory Committee Meeting

Additionally, the following workshops related to the development of the draft 2020-2024 Airport Business Plan have been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date:

• Tuesday, April 14; 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 16; 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 16; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 21; 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
• Thursday, April 23; 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 29; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Recreation Program Cancellations

All Recreation Culture Services programs that were scheduled to occur between March 14, 2020 and April 5, 2020 have been cancelled. 

The City of Oshawa has also cancelled all Recreation and Culture programs scheduled for the upcoming Spring program session.

For more information related to refunds, registration, membership, rentals and facility permits view our frequently asked questions webpage.

Permit Cancellations

Recreation and Culture Services is not currently accepting applications to book any outdoor space between the dates of March 14, 2020 and April 5, 2020. If you would like to book an outdoor space after this time, please contact 905-436-3311 or email [email protected] and your booking inquiry will be directed to a member of our team who will be happy to assist you. 

Refunds can be requested by contacting 905-436-3311 or by emailing [email protected] and your inquiry will be directed to a member of our team who will be happy to assist you. Please note, during the facility closures credits on account will be refunded for the following payment types made at the time of purchase:

• Cash, cheque and debit payments will be returned via cheque. Please note, it could take up to three weeks for patrons to receive a cheque for their refund request.
• Credit card payments will be returned via refund to your credit card. In situations where the credit card at the time of purchase is no longer in use, refunds will be returned via cheque. Please note, it could take up to three weeks for patrons to receive a cheque for their refund request.

1. Complete an online self-assessment.
2. Contact Durham Health Connection Line 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729.
3. Contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
4. Contact your primary care provider by phone.

Additional resources