Ottawa 
Here is a list of what is open and closed in Ottawa as Ontario has moved into the first step of its reopening plan announced on January 20, 2022.
What is Open/Closed in Ottawa:
Gathering Limits
Starting Jan 31, 2022:
- indoor social gatherings – 10 people
- outdoor social gatherings – 25 people or fewer
- Organized public events – Indoor events limited to 25 people
- Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted with indoor services are limited to 50 per cent of the capacity of the room and outdoor with physical distancing.
What is Open for in-person shopping/activities:
Retail:
- All kinds of non-essential stores and essential retail stores including those in shopping malls are open with 50 per cent capacity.
Restaurants:
- Open (indoors with 50 per cent capacity), maximum 10 patrons per table
Personal Services:
- Open with 50% capacity; maximum capacity must be posted.
Gyms/personal physical fitness and sports trainers:
- Indoor open, limited to the number that can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person in an indoor space, and may not exceed 50 per cent of the capacity of the indoor space where the services are provided.
Attractions & Recreational Facilities:
- All indoor attractions like museums, art galleries, bingo halls, recreational facilities open with 50 per cent capacity.
- Indoor amusement parks and waterparks with 50 per cent capacity. Outdoor open.
- Indoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas, spectator areas of facilities such as sporting events, concert venues and theatres to operate at 50 per cent seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.
- All indoor events and concert venues, theatres, cinemans, fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals and similar outdoor events including outdoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas
- Drive-Through Events
- Tour and guide services
- Boat tours (Boat tours and cruises in Ontario)
- Drive-In Theatres
- Overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites, including Ontario Parks (Reserve Your Visit in Advance to Popular Ontario Parks)
- Hotels, motels, lodges, resorts are open.
- Community centres and multi-purpose facilities at 50 per cent
- Public libraries with 50 per cent capacity
Others:
- Financial services like banks
- Healthcare services
- Veterinary services and other businesses that provide pet services and for the health and welfare of animals, including:farms, boarding kennels, stables, animal shelters research facilities, pet groomers, pet sitters, pet walkers, pet trainers (including for service animals)
- Laundromats and drycleaners
Things to Do This Weekend in Ottawa
What is closed:
- Nightclubs and other food or drink establishments with dance facilities and strip clubs can only operate as restaurants.
- Bathhouses and sex clubs: Closed
- Oxygen bars: closed.
City of Ottawa Services:
Recreation and cultural activities
The City will resume drop-in recreation and cultural activities at select locations with 50 per cent capacity levels.
- Select facilities listed on ottawa.ca will open for drop-in activities and facility rentals at 50 per cent capacity starting on Monday. Access to most activities will require a reservation in advance and proof of vaccination will be required for everyone 12 years and older. Reservations for drop-in activities can be made under the “schedule” tab of the facility page beginning at 6 pm on Saturday, January 29.
- Many of the planned winter registered programs will be cancelled due to limited time remaining in the winter session and capacity restrictions. You will be contacted if your program has been cancelled and receive a refund. The following registered programs will still take place beginning Saturday, February 5:
- Advanced aquatic certification programs (modified schedule)
- Outdoor programs at Mooney’s Bay Ski Centre at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility
- Learn to Skate programs
- Hockey programs
- 4-n-4 for ages seven to 12
- 50+ Game Play
- Night Adult Game Play
- Ray Friel Hckey League
- Instructinal powerskating
- Nepean Visual Arts Centre programs
- Inclusive Recreation programs, including Social Recreation
- Seniors Centres programming
- “I Love To” programs
- Modified rural program offerings (check the guide for availability in your community)
- Virtual programs
- Before and After school programs
- March Break camps will be offered with registration opening on Wednesday, February 16 at 9 pm.
These programs will run as staff availability permits. It’s a good idea to check for cancellations before heading to your program.
Other City Services:
The City is preparing to restart in-person counter services by appointment by only on Monday February 7. Starting January 31, clients can start making appointments for the February 7 reopening week.
Employment and Social Services and Rent Supplement Program Offices are the only exception, with counter and drop-off services resuming on Monday, January 31.
Here is the list of the in-person counter services with their start dates and appointment contact information:
Service Ottawa – Client Service Centres and Building Code Services (February 7)
Service Ottawa will resume the delivery in-person offerings – by appointment only – on Monday, February 7 at two Client Services Centres:
- Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West
- Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive
Appointments can be made through the online booking tool on ottawa.ca. People without internet access can reserve at time by calling 3-1-1 and choose option #6.
Visit ottawa.ca for the list of in-person service offerings. Residents can still take advantage of the convenience of accessing services on online.
Building Code Services counters will be open at these two Client Service Centre locations by appointment only. Building Code Services will continue to support application submissions by mail and electronically at buildingpermits@ottawa.ca.
Employment and Social Services and Rent Supplement Program Offices (January 31)
- Starting Monday, January 31, limited counter and document drop-off services will be available at all four centres – 370 Catherine Street, Mary Pitt Centre (second floor west, 100 Constellation Drive), 2020 Walkley Road, and 2339 Ogilvie Road, weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. For all other services, staff will provide both telephone and email support on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
- The Mary Pitt Centre location (second floor west, 100 Constellation Drive) will also be the only location for limited counter and document drop-off services for the Rent Supplement Program, which will only be operating on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The staff will continue to provide telephone and email support on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Business Licensing Centre (February 7)
The Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Avenue will restart in-person services on Monday, February 7, by appointment only:
- Business licenses (all categories)
- Pet registration
To make an appointment, email businesslicensing@ottawa.ca or by calling 613-580-2424, extension 12735.
City Archives (February 8)
The City’s Central Archives at the James K. Bartleman Centre, located at 100 Tallwood Drive, and Rideau Archives in North Gower will restart in-person appointments on Tuesday, February 8 for residents wishing to visit the Reference Room. Clients make a reservation by emailing archives@ottawa.ca or by phoning 613-580-2857.
Provincial Offence Act Court (February 7)
Court services counters located at 100 Constellation Drive and 110 Laurier Avenue West will resume delivering services by appointment only on Monday, February 7. No walk-ins will be accepted. Clients are reminded to visit our counters only if necessary, as many of our in-person services can be accessed online at ottawa.ca/poa.
As a result of court proceedings being heard remotely until further notice, there will be no justice of the peace at any of the locations. If you received a summons to appear in court, do not attend court in-person. Your matter will be held remotely at the date and time noted on your summons. Please refer to the conference details listed at ottawa.ca/poa.
Defendants will receive a notice of a new court date by mail to the address on file with the court (please note that changing your address with MTO/Service Ontario does not update your address with the court office). For any changes, please contact us at 613-580-2400 (TTY 613-580-2401) and press option three, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Winter Activities:
Lone Star Texas Grill is still OPEN for take-out, online orders and delivery through SkipTheDishes!
Free queso with $20 purchase – take out or online, Use promo code QUESO10, expires March 20
$10 off $40 purchase – take out or online, SPRING10
$10 off Delivery on Skip the Dishes – LONESTAR10