COVID-19 Information & Updates

The City has reopened a number of its outdoor amenities for public use. 

Community members using outdoor amenities are reminded to adhere to safety protocols, government orders and health authority guidelines, including:

• maintaining physical distancing of at least 2 metres (6 feet) or more between persons;
• not using the amenities in groups of more than five (unless the gathering is comprised of members of a single household); and,
• respecting posted signage on guidelines for use.

Additionally, team sports or groups of more than five that are not part of the same household are still not permitted due to provincial emergency orders. 

Community members are welcome to use Oshawa’s open park spaces and trails and we remind community members to adhere to orders from the Ontario Government and health authority guidelines, including limiting gatherings of more than five people and maintaining physical distancing. 

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
• Park washroom facilities
• Lakeview Park Beach area

Outdoor permits are cancelled to the end of June with the exception of tennis and pickleball. Please contact the Facility Booking Office at 905-436-3311 or email [email protected] for more information. Additionally, permits for indoor space remain cancelled until further notice.

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, April and May have been extended to June 30 to allow individuals and businesses more time to submit and process these applications.

Marriage Licences and Civil Marriage Ceremonies

Marriage Licences are offered by appointment only. For more information about booking an appointment for a licence please contact Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311. 

Civil marriage ceremony bookings are currently 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.

Recreation Program Cancellations

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

Registration for Summer programs, including summer camps, has been limited until further notice. Community members who have already completed their registration for a summer program will remain enrolled. Those wishing to register for a summer program or camp will have the option to waitlist for their preferred program by visiting activeOshawa online registration.

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

Permit Cancellations

Outdoor permits are cancelled to the end of June with the exception of tennis and pickleball. Please contact the Facility Booking Office at 905-436-3311 or email [email protected] for more information. Additionally, permits for indoor space remain cancelled until further notice.

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.

The City has resumed its regular City Council and Standing Committee meetings electronically according to the Council approved schedule.

Upcoming Council and Standing Committee meetings as per the Council approved schedule are: 

• June 8, 2020 9:30 a.m.- Corporate Services Committee
• June 8, 2020 1:30 p.m. - Development Services Committee Meeting
• June 15, 2020 9:30 a.m. - Community Services Committee
• June 15, 2020 1:30 p.m. -  Finance Committee
• June 22, 2020 9:30 a.m. -  City Council Meeting

Additionally, at the upcoming Council and Standing Committee meetings, delegations will be permitted electronically through remote electronic access provided the request relates to an item on the published agenda and is received by City Clerk Services a minimum of two business days prior to the meeting in order to arrange for technology testing. Due to the technology and testing required, delegation requests received after this deadline will not be permitted. City Clerks Services can be contacted by email at [email protected] or telephone 905-436-3311.

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

To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the Ontario government has extended the Declaration of Emergency to June 2, 2020. For the most up-to-date public information about COVID-19 in the Province of Ontario, refer to their Coronavirus webpage.

Additionally, the Ontario government has extended emergency orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, while beginning to ease some restrictions as Ontario officially enters the first stage of reopening the province. View the complete list of current emergency orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

The Ontario Government has announced a framework for the gradual and phased approach of reopening the province and responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information on the phased framework, visit Reopening Ontario after COVID-19.  

Essential businesses

On May 19, 2020 - The Ontario government has begun easing restrictions on workplaces that can operate safely by following public health and safety guidelines.

The Ontario government announced that all retail stores with a street entrance can provide curbside pickup and delivery, as well as in-store payment and purchases at garden centres, nurseries, hardware stores and safety supply stores. Businesses can refer to the list of essential workplaces for more information on workplaces that can safely reopen while following government orders and health guidelines.

Seasonal and Recreational Activities

The government recently announced seasonal services and activities will be permitted to open. Learn more and visit the Ontario Government website. 

NOTE: The health and safety of our community members is the City's number one priority. For the latest City information, View "What's Open, Closed and Changes to Services" on this webpage. 

Prohibition of organized public events and social gatherings of more than five people

On March 28, 2020, the Ontario government issued a new emergency order prohibiting organized public events and social gatherings of more than five people. On May 16, 2020, the Ontario Government issued an amendment with respect to religious services, rites or ceremonies.

Stop the Spread Business Information Line

Businesses who have questions about closures of at-risk workplaces or how emergency measures impact their business or employment can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659. Help is available from Monday to Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A complete list of essential services is available on the Government of Ontario's website.

Ontario Protecting Consumers from Price Gouging

Consumers can report an individual who is price gouging by filing a complaint at 1-800-889-9768 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, or by filing a report online.  

On March 24, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, John Henry declared a State of Emergency in the Region of Durham in accordance with the Emergency Management By-law.

For the most up-to-date public information about COVID-19 in Durham Region, refer to www.durham.ca/NovelCoronavirus.

The D.R.P.S. has set up a reporting process for residents who want to report a non-compliant business or a large gathering of over 5 people. Residents can now report either situation on www.drps.ca under Online Services - Community Concern, or call the D.R.P.S. non-emergency line at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5802.

Secondary contact information for Durham Public Health is via email at [email protected], or by phone at 1-800-841-2729 or 905-668-2020.

Anyone seeking clarification whether a situation falls under the non-compliance orders can call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659. Assistance is available Monday to Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.