Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update on City of Windsor Services

As of January 14, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., a stay at home order is in effect for all of Ontario, and the provincial COVID-19 Response Framework (colour-coded zones) is paused. The City of Windsor service adjustments listed below are up to date and consistent with the latest provincial designation.

Learn more about the provincial COVID-19 public health measures and restrictions.

Latest News:

See more past updates in the Newsroom.

Status of Municipal Buildings

Buildings at 350 City Hall Square West, 1266 McDougall and 2450 McDougall will be closed to the public unless an appointment has been arranged in advance.

The building at 400 City Hall Square East will remain open to the public for service at some federal and provincial offices, as will any other building with self contained leased space to non-City tenants (Mackenzie Hall and Gino and Liz Marcus Community Complex). This is subject to change.

Masks/Face Coverings

Effective August 19, 2020, a mask that covers the nose and mouth will be required in all indoor public spaces by order of the Mayor, pursuant to section 4(1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, including places of business, community centres, places of worship, entertainment venues and any common-use areas within a multi-use dwelling (such as lobby, elevator, laundry rooms and corridors). Exceptions are made for children and those with underlying medical conditions and to comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
See news release, Mayor Windsor Orders Use of Masks inside Public Spaces and the full order regarding masks and face coverings.
You can also view mask By-law 123-2020 - Masks and Face Coverings and By-law 142-2020 - Amendment.
Find tips and more about masks on the Windsor-Essex County Health Units website.

For City of Windsor services and information, residents can call 311 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday (holidays excepted), or they can download the 311 app, email 311@citywindsor.ca or use www.311online.ca to send requests 24/7 (though responses will be processed at the hours noted above).

For additional information, see also Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

City of Windsor Service Adjustments:

Building

The City of Windsor Building Division has been and will continue to accept all permit applications and has resumed all construction inspections. There will continue to be safety parameters surrounding inspections in occupied buildings and work sites, and those specific directions will be provided when inspections are requested.

Building By-Law Enforcement

Temporary Service Delivery Model for Building By-Law Enforcement (Updated - January 13, 2021)

By-law Enforcement

Routine enforcement has resumed as of June 1, 2020, in addition to matters covered under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, which can include social distancing in public spaces, restrictions to gathering sizes and adherence by businesses to essential services orders.

Council Services (Office of the City Clerk)

Freedom of Information applications will be accepted electronically only. Visit our Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy page for details.
Commissioner of Oaths is available by appointment only. Email clerks@citywindsor.ca. Or call the 311 Customer Contact Centre for information.
Civil ceremonies will not be taking place.

Economic Development (Office of the Chief Administrative Officer [CAO])

All economic development services are available with the exception of on-site meetings and visits. The processing times of community improvement plan (CIP) applications and business incentives may be increased. Questions can be directed to Milan Vujanovic, Senior Economic Development Officer at 519-890-0453 or mvujanovic@citywindsor.ca.

Engineering

No public facing services will be offered (e.g. street opening permits, encroachments etc.). Limited service will be provided to development applications, engineering, E.I.S. and drafting. E-services will continue to be offered. Construction will continue.

As a result of COVID-19, the City of Windsor has agreed to waive permit and annual fees for the 2020 sidewalk
cafe season in an effort to support local restaurants and small businesses. In order to operate a sidewalk cafe, one must obtain an annual permit. See Sidewalk Cafe FAQ for further details.

Finance (Office of the City Treasurer)

The following services will be maintained:

Payroll services
Accounts payable services
Property tax payments and customer service requests (Scroll to bottom of FAQ for updated info on property taxes)
Property tax account administration
I.T. Help Desk
I.T. network security
Enterprise support services

Fire and Rescue

Emergency services continue. Legislated inspections only. All public education cancelled.

Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste

While garbage and recycling collection are continuing as normal, we would ask that residents keep 6 feet (2 metres) away from collectors. Also, all garbage related by-laws still apply, i.e. must be in acceptable containers, can not be overflowing, must be under 44 pounds, etc. Yard waste collection is continuing on its regular schedule,

Please also note updated guidelines on the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority's Safe Waste Management/COVID-19 page to help keep our workers protected while they perform this valuable service. General info can be found on our Waste and Recycling page.

Public Drop-Off Depot will remain open at limited capacity to ensure social distancing. Delays can be expected. The rodent program will continue; street sweeping program and litter bin collections are operating on a reduced service level; and special event services will not be offered.

Huron Lodge Long-Term Care Home

In accordance with Windsor Essex County Health Unit guidelines, an outbreak has been declared at Huron Lodge. Staff are working closely with the Windsor Essex County Health Unit to implement any additional steps as required to manage the outbreak.

Visit the Huron Lodge home page for information on vaccinations, designated caregivers and more, and see Huron COVID-19 Updates and Frequently Asked Questions.

Human Resources

Recruitment will cease, except in emergency situations, and all corporate training will cease.

Legal

Service response time may be reduced, but essential legal work will be completed.

Licensing

All municipal business, lottery, gaming and animal licence processing in-person transactions have temporarily been suspended. For alternate methods to obtain a municipal licence, call 519-255-6200, option 1, or email licences@citywindsor.ca.

Maintenance

Pothole patching continues, but other routine road and sewer maintenance will not be offered. Eeling program will continue.

Parking

While in the provincial grey COVID-19 protocol, meter parking is free for 15 minutes when using the Passport Parking App. This is an effort to help with take-out restaurant orders. The app can be used once every six hours.
With the exception of the free 15 minutes mentioned above, regular enforcement of parking at street meters continues as normal. Please follow the times laid out at the meters and on signage in municipal lots and garages, and pay the appropriate amount for the time you need to park.
Effective December 14, the Public Works Office at 1266 McDougall Street is closed to public entry due to the grey lockdown and no longer providing in-person services, but other options remain in effect for customers:

Parking penalty dispute forms may be found online or picked up from the appropriate mailbox in front of 1266 McDougall and may be returned in the same location.
For new or expired residential parking permits, please call 519-255-6298 for updated information.
Monthly pre-set parking lot fee payments will continue as normal. For new requests, please call 519-255-6247 for updated information

Parking ticket payments can still be made online, mailed in or submitted through the secure front door mail slot at 1266 McDougall Avenue.
For more information, visit the parking enforcement page.

Parks

Parks, trails, green spaces, playgrounds, outdoor sports courts and tobogganing hills remain open for informal recreation purposes, but users are asked to please observe social distancing. Provincial guidelines for gatherings must be observed.
Outdoor skating rinks will remain closed while the city is in the grey-lockdown stage of the pandemic.
Some washrooms that are in winterized buildings (Malden Park Visitor Centre, Riverfront at North Assumption Park, Caron Avenue, Bistro/Dieppe, Festival Plaza, Charles Clark Square and Jackson Park's Queen Elizabeth II Sunken Gardens) will remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. However, some locations start to close as early as 7 p.m. as staff cycle through.
The Parks Operations Department will make the necessary changes to snow removal in order to re-prioritize facilities that remain open for the delivery of services.

Planning

The Planning Division has been and will continue to accept all Planning Act and other development-related applications.

Mandatory pre-consultations on development applications will be available via electronic participation or by appointment. You can also schedule an appointment to submit an application or make an in-person payment. Please call 519-255-6543 to schedule an appointment.

Planning Act Applications:

Public meetings for Planning Act applications will follow the schedule established for the Development and Heritage Standing Committee. See Development and Heritage Standing Committee agenda.

Committee of Adjustment:

Committee of Adjustment hearings have been and will continue to occur on a modified schedule and are being conducted via electronic participation. See most current Committee of Adjustment agenda and details about joining the meeting.

You can also continue to contact us by email at jwatson@citywindsor.ca , phone (519) 255-6543, or send regular mail to:

Planning Division
2nd Floor, 350 City Hall Square West,
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
N9A 6S1

You may also submit a Committee of Adjustment application or appeal electronically or in person by appointment. Please email jwatson@citywindsor.ca or (519) 255-6543 to arrange to submit your application electronically.

Policy and Gaming

Gaming and raffle licences will be provided by appointment only. Email licenses@citywindsor.ca.

Pollution Control

By-law enforcement, Environmental Master Plan (and associated works), and some engineering functions will not be offered or will be re-assigned. All other staff to provide essential service.

Public access to the septic unloading station for R.V. and travel trailers has been suspended at the Lou Romano Water Reclamation Plant.

Plant tours for both Lou Romano and Little River are suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Provincial Offences (POA)

The POA courts are operating remotely, with the exception of trials, which have been administratively adjourned. Some in-person POA court services remain available by appointment only. For urgent requests, please email poa.tickets@citywindsor.ca.

See our Provincial Offences home page and the Ontario Court of Justice page for further information and updates.

Purchasing

Essential supplies and purchases will continue to be made. Existing procurements will be completed, and a reduced number of non-critical procurements will be issued if required.

Recreation and Culture

On November 30, the City suspended all indoor recreational services in pools, arenas and community centres for a two-week period in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Grey zone restrictions will force the continued suspension of these services, which will be in place until such time as restrictions are downgraded.
In consultation with Windsor’s Medical Officer of Health, after-school programming in City facilities will close effective Monday December 14, 2020, which falls in line with the ordered closure of all elementary and secondary schools. After-school programming will resume once the health unit directive on schools is lifted.
Tenants leasing space in City facilities for after-school programs will not be permitted to operate under the current restrictions. Tenants leasing space to operate other businesses deemed “essential” by the Province will continue to have access to their space.

Social Services (Office of the Commissioner of Community Development and Health):

Housing & Homelessness Services:

The City of Windsor continues to offer programs and services virtually for individuals and families in Windsor and Essex County who require assistance obtaining and retaining affordable housing. This includes help paying rent and utilities. Visit the Housing and Homelessness page on the City’s website for more information.

Services that will be closed to the public:

City operated EarlyON Centres
Employment & Training Services Centre, Suite 101
Community Development & Health Services (CDHS) Office, Suite 301
Ontario Works - Windsor Office
Ontario Works - Leamington Office

Services open, although access is via telephone or email, rather than in person:

Children’s Services administrative supports
Housing administrative supports
Employment and Training Services administrative support

Transit

For the latest on Transit Windsor operations during the pandemic, see Transit Windsor COVID-19 Service Update.

Protective barriers have been installed on all Transit Windsor buses. Transit Windsor returned to front-door boarding and fare collection as of October 26, 2020.
Riders are encouraged to board at the front door and exit at the rear door (with the exception of those with mobility needs who may exit at the front door).
Fare media, including the reloading of Transit Windsor Smart Cards is available at the Transit Centre (3700 North Service Road East) and Windsor International Transit Terminal (300 Chatham Street West). Capacity limits are in place, and all customers and vendors entering either facility are required to fill out a screening and contact tracing form. See Transit Windsor sales locations hours of operation.
The mandatory mask policy remains in effect indefinitely, and bus capacity will be limited to seated loads only (no standees) to allow for physical distancing on board.
Effective Tuesday, September 8, Transit Windsor began operating on an enhanced Saturday schedule, as well as offering secondary school extras, while adhering to public health guidelines to support the health and safety of drivers and riders alike.

Transportation Planning

Project management and response to resident service requests will continue. Public meetings will be delayed or provided by alternate means (e.g. online). Reviews that need traffic data collection will be delayed.