Ottawa 
A provincewide stay-at-home order meant to bring down COVID-19 case counts takes effect on January 14th in Ontario. The restrictions will remain in place for Ottawa until February 11, 2021
During the days when stay-at-home is in effect:
- Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people.
- Individuals are required to wear a mask or face-covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can’t physically distance more than two metres.
- All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 am and close no later than 8 pm. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.
- As per official rules, Ontarians can leave their place of residence for one of these 29 reasons.
Gathering Limits
- Social gatherings are limited to your household
- 5 people outdoors.
- Limit for weddings, funerals and other religious services, rites or ceremonies where physical distancing can be maintained: 10 people indoors or 10 people outdoors
What is Open for In-person Shopping:
– Shops and Retailers Allowed to Open for In-Person Shopping.
— Retailers allowed to open for in-person shopping — including supermarkets, convenience stores, box stores that sell groceries and discount stores — must be able to maintain physical distance between people, and require face coverings.
- Supermarkets and retailers that sell food like Walmart, Costco, Superstore open for in-person shopping
- Pharmacies open for in-person shopping
- Liquor Stores like LCBO, Beer Store open for in-person shopping — Operating hours of 9am to 8pm
- Outdoor markets that sell food open for in-person shopping — Operating hours of 7am to 8pm
- Gas stations and fuel suppliers are open.
- Automated and self-service car washes are open.
- Laundromats and drycleaners are open.
- Snow cleaning and landscaping services are open.
- Banks and other financial services are open.
Recreational activities allowed/ open
— Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can’t physically distance more than two metres.
- Parks (National Capital Commission has confirmed that all areas will remain open providing outdoor recreational activities. The NCC will be opening a section of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway for active use only, 7 days a week, from 9 am to 5 pm. )
- Ice rinks, Snowmobile, cross country, dogsledding, ice-skating and snow-shoe trails (You should go to the nearest place for exercise purposes only.)
- Playgrounds
- Portions of parks or recreational areas containing outdoor fitness equipment
- Tobogganing hills (Ottawa has a limit of 25 people at Sledding hills) and skating trails (Ottawa’s outdoor rinks are open. The NCC is also proceeding with preparations for the safe opening of the Rideau Canal Skateway.)
- Vacation rentals, cottages: Short-term rentals – only to be provided to individuals “who are in need of housing.”
What is Open By Appointment/Curbside Delivery
Retails stores deemed non-essential and those offering curbside pickup and delivery must limit hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
— Food stores, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants selling takeout are exempt from the limit on hours.
— Retailers allowed to open for in-person shopping — including supermarkets, convenience stores, box stores that sell groceries and discount stores — must be able to maintain physical distance between people, and require face coverings.
- All other retail permitted to be open for curbside pick-up or delivery only.
- Hardware stores like Homedepot, Canadian Tire open for curbside pick up.
- Restaurants: Take out, drive-through and delivery permitted, including sale of alcohol.
- Cannabis retail stores open for curbside pick up.
- Garden centres open for curbside pick up.
- General Retail – all other retail, including hardware stores, pet food, computer stores, etc. open for curbside pick up.
- Veterinary services by appointment
- Regulated health professionals including dentists, optometrists, chiropractic services, ophthalmologists, physical and occupational therapists and podiatrists by appointment
- Shopping malls: Closed for in-person retail. Members of the public are only permitted to enter the mall to: Access businesses and organizations permitted to be open.
- Motor/recreational vehicle sales permitted to be open for in-person shopping by appointment only and other restrictions.
- Businesses that sell, rent or repair assistive/mobility/medical devices, and optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public allowed by appointment only. Curbside delivery is allowed
- Libraries are open for curbside, delivery and pick-up.
What is closed:
- Personal care services closed like spas, hairdressers.
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments closed
- Indoor sports and recreational facilities, including pools, closed with limited exceptions.
- Museums, art galleries, zoos, aquariums and other indoor attractions.
- Restaurants closed for indoor and outdoor dining.
- In-person retail shopping not permitted.
- Performing arts facilities closed.
- Drive-in Events, Drive-Thru events closed
- Ski Hills Closed.
City of Ottawa Services
(The following is what was previously published. Ottawa has not yet released details on services during the Stay-at-home order.)
Current City in-person counter services will remain operational:
- Ottawa City Hall and Ben Franklin Place Client Service Centres (101 Centrepointe Drive) – including the Building Code service desks (by appointment-only)
- Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Avenue (by appointment-only)
- Employment and Social Services offices
- Rent Supplement Office (100 Constellation)
Outdoor community and refrigerated skating rinks will remain open for skating only, weather permitting. Change huts will be closed. No hockey or other team sports are permitted on the ice and skaters must maintain a two-metre distance from people outside their household.
Other City park amenities remain open for public use. Residents are reminded to follow public health guidelines and maintain physical distancing.
As of December 26, recreation and cultural facilities will close to the public – including recreation complexes, community centres, arenas, swimming pools, theatres, galleries and museums.
Suspended or altered services
The City will suspend or alter the following in-person services during the 28-day provincial shutdown, which include:
- All drop-in recreation activities and programs – including indoor skating and swimming (public and lane swims)
- Outdoor recreation classes including Terry Fox Cross Country Ski program
- Any indoor recreation, aquatic and arts program scheduled to begin in mid-January will be delayed until after the shutdown
- Ottawa Public Library branches will not allow public access, but contactless curbside services will continue
- EarlyON and Family Care Centres will be closed but will be providing virtual services
- Ottawa Fire Services’ Fire Prevention unit will conduct immediate-threat-to-life inspections and paid or complaint inspections on a case-by-case basis
- OC Transpo Service Centre at the Rideau Centre will also be closed. Online services are available at octranspo.com(link is external)
Parking enforcement
To support those staying home during the shutdown, By-law and Regulatory Services will not be enforcing overtime parking on unsigned residential streets. All other parking restrictions that ensure safety and mobility remain in effect, including parking bans due to snow accumulation, no-stopping zones, no-parking zones, fire routes, accessible parking spaces, pay and display, and rules around sidewalks, driveways and fire hydrants.
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