Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs

With the support of Council, senior City staff, our Emergency Control Group, and senior staff at Joseph Brant Hospital, this declaration helps send a message to our community about the serious nature of the pandemic and enables the the city to focus on the delivery of essentials services. It aligns with the Province of Ontario's emergency declaration and many other communities across the country.

For all COVID-19 related health information, please visit www.halton.ca/coronavirus.

We need to listen to the recommendations of Public Health to practice physical distancing and self-isolate when directed – to protect ourselves, the ones most vulnerable, our first responders and healthcare workers. We must all do our part to control the spread of COVID-19.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has a comprehensive online resource about physical distancing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Learn more...

For the latest actions taken by the City of Burlington please visit and subscribe to our News and Notices.

Residents can also stay informed at burlington.ca/coronavirus and the city's social media channels: @cityburlington on Twitter and facebook.com/cityburlington.

COVID-19 is having a direct impact on the City's finances. In addition to significant revenue losses, the City has to incur additional expenses to close facilities, increase cleaning and modify service delivery. 

While some of these impacts are temporary in nature, a portion are likely to impact the City's financial position over a longer period of time as we transition to a new normal state of operations. 

While there still remains much uncertainty as to what this new normal state of operations may look like, the City sought opportunities to mitigate these financial challenges and reduce any overall property tax impact as part of the approved 2021 budget.

In July 2020, the federal government announced the Safe Restart Funding Agreement, providing financial support to provinces. Burlington received $6 million. Learn more.

In December 2020, Burlington was notified that it is one of 48 (out of 444 municipalities) to receive additional phase 2 funding from the Safe Restart Funding Agreement. This includes $5.4 million of  additional 2020 operating funding, plus $1.9 million to help with 2021 COVID-related operating pressures. This funding is in addition to $2.2 million in transit-related money provided to help with local transit pressures, which was also secured through the City’s phase 2 application through the Safe Restart program. 

For residents looking to receive or offer support, please visit the city's COVID-19 Community Resources web page.

This page has information about a variety of community resources available to support those impacted by COVID-19. 

Yes, wearing a mask is mandatory when using any Burlington Transit services or facilities.

To help with the safety of customers and staff, non-medical masks or face coverings are mandatory. You must wear a mask:

• At bus stops,
• in terminals and
• while on Burlington Transit buses and vehicles.

Only these customers are exempt from wearing a mask:

• People with a disability or medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask
• Children under the age of five
• A child over five whose parents have given a 'best effort' to put on a mask.

Mandatory masks and face coverings while riding transit help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Burlington Transit drivers are helping to educate our riders about the Mask Bylaw. They are not enforcing the bylaw.

All buses have signs posted with information about the mandatory mask bylaw as well. Thank you to our riders who are wearing masks to help protect drivers, fellow riders and themselves.

Half of Burlington Transit drivers are behind a partition, which protects them from exposure to passengers. The partition also protects passengers from the driver.

On buses with no partition, drivers are required to wear a mask.

The Mask By-law No. 06-2021 includes exemptions for those who cannot wear a mask or face covering for medical reasons, children under the age of five, and other reasonable accommodations.

The Mask By-law No. 06-2021 also permits the temporary removal of a mask or face covering when receiving services, having a meal, or engaging in athletic or fitness activity. The bylaw will not apply to child care facilities and schools, and areas that are not enclosed (i.e. restaurant patios with proper physical distancing measures in place).

No one is required to provide any proof that they meet one of the exemptions.

Guide to Support Local Businesses

Business Economic Development, in partnership with the City of Burlington, has also created a guide to support businesses in ensuring they are in compliance with the bylaw. For more information visit http://bedc.ca/mask-bylaw/

Businesses are required under the bylaw to have a mask policy and to comply with the bylaw subject to exemptions. Some businesses may choose to implement any mandates they deem essential to the safe and effective management of their businesses, such as a “no shoes, no shirt, no service” dress code policy or asking spa patrons to shower before entering a pool.

The hope is that business owners will find ways to be flexible for those that have valid exceptions and accommodate them when possible. Many businesses also have options to order products online or by telephone for delivery or curbside pickup.

As of July 20, 2020, it is a requirement that masks or face coverings be worn in indoor, enclosed spaces open to the public.

As of Jan. 12, 2021, wearing a mask or face covering is recommended outdoors when you can't physically distance more than two metres.  

Wearing a mask or face covering, when physical distancing is a challenge, may help to reduce community spread of COVID-19, especially from individuals who are infected with COVID-19 but asymptomatic. It’s also about being a good fellow citizen.

According to the Region of Halton’s Medical Officer of Health, current evidence indicates that COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Individuals can become infected by breathing in these droplets, or by touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Face coverings or non-medical masks can act as a barrier to help stop the spread of droplets.

Be kind to the person; don’t assume anything. Individuals may be prevented from being able to wear a mask or face covering, by for example, an existing medical condition.

To report an incident of noncompliance, contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722.

Please see the staff member or security guard at the entrance and they will assist you.

The City’s Bylaw Enforcement Officers are assisting the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) to enforce the Province’s physical distancing orders and health and safety restrictions by responding to complaints, educating residents and working with HRPS where police intervention may be warranted. In addition, the City’s Bylaw Enforcement Officers will enforce the physical distancing restrictions established by the City under the Burlington COVID-19 Physical Distancing Bylaw. 

Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) continue to work with our Municipal Bylaw partners and Public Health officials to respond to complaints and support proactive efforts to raise awareness Their focus remain on education and using enforcement only as a last resort.

HRPS officers will not be conducting random stops of vehicles or individuals and urges residents to take personal responsibility to follow all restrictions to limit the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus.

The Province has issued a number of orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act which are in effect throughout the province to address the COVID-19 emergency.

For information about the most recent health and safety restrictions, visit ontario.ca

The City has established the Burlington COVID-19 Physical Distancing Bylaw, which prohibits people from maintaining less than a 2 metre distance from one another while on any public property (other than people they live with).

The City may add further prohibitions as additional information is received and the need for additional regulation is identified.

On March 21, 2020 the City declared an emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.  The Bylaw was passed by the City in accordance with the powers granted to municipalities under the Municipal Act, 2001 to protect, among other things, the health and safety of the public.

The Burlington COVID-19 Physical Distancing Bylaw is designed and intended to support and reinforce the Province’s physical distancing orders and regulation.

While voluntary compliance to the guidelines laid out by the provincial government is preferred, Halton Region Police Service has been provided authority under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to issue fines to individuals and businesses that choose to defy the Act.

The bylaw does not impact the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as it does not prevent two people from meeting; it requires people to maintain a 2-metre distance while on public property.

Charges may be laid for violations of the Province’s emergency orders in two ways. Police and municipal law enforcement officers may issue tickets; fines are to be determined. Alternatively, officers may instead lay a charge by way of a summons in which case the fine and penalties are potentially more severe, ranging from up to $100,000 for individuals, $500,000 for directors or officers of a corporation and up to $10,000,000 for a corporation that is found violating orders issued by the Province under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.  In addition, offenders may be subject to up to one-year imprisonment.

With respect to the Burlington COVID-19 Physical Distancing Bylaw, the City’s Bylaw Enforcement team may issue tickets which will carry a set fine or may lay charges by way of a court summons, which carry fines that will be set by a Justice of the Peace ranging from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $100,000.  In cases where a person is charged with violating more than one of the physical distancing requirements in the Bylaw a minimum of $500 may be applied for each offence with maximum fines that may exceed $100,000.  

In addition, charges may be laid under both the provincial orders and the City’s Bylaw at the same time.

On April 16, 2021, the Province of Ontario announced new COVID-19 restrictions for the province. Outdoor gatherings are limited to members of the same household only. If an individual lives alone, they may choose one household to gather with, exclusively.

To learn more, visit ontario.ca

Yes, businesses and business owners can be charged for violating COVID-19 emergency orders issued by the Province and the City. For example, businesses violating the Provincial Orders requiring closure of non-essential businesses or prohibiting price gouging on essential goods may be charged and subject to fines of up to $10,000,000, and officers and directors of these businesses may be liable for fines of up to $500,000 personally. 

Residents who wish to report a potential violation of the Provincial Orders or the City’s COVID-19 Physical Distancing By-law should call the Halton Regional Police Service.

For the duration of the pandemic, if a member of the public wishes to report an incident of non-compliance with the emergency orders, they may contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722.

Residents can call the COVID-19 Hotline to report:

• non-essential businesses remaining open
• events and gatherings not adhering to the limits for social gatherings
• establishments remaining open that are prohibited from being in operation under the EMCPA
• individuals using locked or fenced-in sports field areas

A call taker will collect relevant information from the complainant, and when appropriate, a bylaw enforcement officer or police officer will be dispatched to follow up.

In addition, with respect to complaints regarding unconscionable pricing or price gouging, residents may also contact the Consumer Protection Ontario Call Centre at 1-800-889-9768 (which operates between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.), or file complaints online at: www.ontario.ca/page/consumer-protection-ontario.

For a list of what is open and closed, visit burlington.ca/coronavirus. 

The City asks residents to follow the recommended guidelines for drive-by events.

Guidance provided from Halton Region Public Health to the City of Burlington includes reminding residents to:

• Stay at home 
• Only go out for essential reasons
• Maintain physical distancing
• Practice good hand hygiene.

Additional guidance from Halton Region Public Health for parade organizers and participants includes:

• Remain in vehicle during the entire event
• Do not interact or gather with individuals outside of the vehicles
• Ensure only household members are in the vehicles
• Reduce the need for in-person coordination by providing written or telephone directions in advance
• Limit the driving distance
• Consider limiting the number of vehicles permitted
• Continue to follow the rules of the road
• Follow relevant local regulations with respect to events/parades.

City of Burlington updated guidelines
The City of Burlington offers the following updated guidelines for parade organizers and participants:  

• Alert neighbours in advance of the planned procession and timing, to the degree possible while maintaining social distancing (e.g. provide notice via email, or a neighbourhood Facebook group)
• Ensure decorations on a vehicle (e.g. balloons, toys, ribbons) are properly secured
• Refrain from gathering at a centralized location to form a queue. Instead, provide a window of time for participants to make their way individually to the location and drive by
• If observing, please stay on your own property and two metres away from any neighbour.

Read more about drive-by parade guidelines.

An essential service is defined in Federal terms as any service, facility or activity of the Government of Canada that is or will be necessary for the safety or security of the public or a segment of the public.

Examples of government services or activities that may be considered essential include but are not limited to: border safety/security, correctional services, food inspection activities, accident safety investigations, income and social security, marine safety, national security, law enforcement, and search and rescue.

The Province of Ontario also has a list of essential workplaces - read the list here. A toll-free line is available at 1-888-444-3659 to provide support to Ontario businesses who have questions about the province’s emergency order to close at-risk workplaces following recommendations by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

At the City of Burlington, essential services are those that need to be delivered under one of the following categories:

• Are required to meet certain legislative requirements;
• Support employee and public health, safety and security;
• Enable critical community services and supports, including COVID-19 mitigation and recovery;
• Support services necessary to keep essential services operating;
• Protect and operate vital infrastructure; and
• Fulfill contractual, legal and financial obligations.

Under the current Stay-at-Home order (April 17, 2021), landscaping services, including maintenance and construction, continue to be permitted in Ontario.

Landscaping Services - e.g. turf management, landscape lighting, landscape irrigation, grounds management, landscape construction, interior plantscaping, and landscape design.

Snow clearing is also listed as a permitted service.

To increase security for those businesses throughout our Region, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) is offering the following suggestions for properties that are temporarily closed:

• Remove valuables from storefront displays
• Keep the interior, front, and rear entrances well lit
• Keep some lighting on inside for surveillance opportunities
• Remove valuables such as cash from the till and leave open. Place the cash tray in plain view
• Ensure the contact is up to date on any alarm monitoring system
• Clearly post signage on the door/window to indicate:
  • Premise is monitored by alarm company;
  • That no money is kept on premises; and
  • Contact information for the police and business owner in the event a member of the public observes damage to property or suspicious activity
• Consider installing a surveillance camera system that can be monitored online
• Consider installing laminate on windows and glass doors to increase glass integrity from blunt force
• Ensure all doors are properly secured

The HRPS will also be conducting targeted and proactive patrols of businesses that have closed to ensure they are secure.

The HRPS would also like to urge managers of construction sites that may be closing to take measures to ensure the security of their sites and tools. Tools on vacant construction sites are a popular target for thieves and should be removed when possible.

We know food is an essential. Whether you are picking up food from the grocery store or a take-out restaurant is not significantly different. The same can be said for picking up essentials from our local food banks, or accepting at-home deliveries from grocers, Wal-Mart or Amazon. We are relying on both types of business to exercise precautions in their food handling and staff hygiene, and to ensure sick employees and customers stay home. The most important thing is to use good judgement, employ social distancing, wash your hands, and stay home if you're sick.

View what's open for public use...

City Hall, located at 426 Brant St., remains open for in-person service by appointment only for commissioning services and marriage licences. Walk-ins are not permitted.  

Please visit burlington.ca/commissioning, burlington.ca/marriage or call 905-335-7777 to book your appointment. Residents can also visit burlington.ca/onlineservices to access a variety of City services online.

Service Burlington is available to answer questions by phone during regular business hours, at 905-335-7777 and email at city@burlington.ca.

Beginning Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in-person payments are available by appointment only. To book an appointment, call 905-335-7777.

• Directly through financial institutions – by internet, telephone banking or ATM
• Pre-authorized Payment Plans (10 Month, Due Date, Taxpayer Defined)
• Regular mail or physical drop box (at the Locust Street entrance of City Hall)
• 3rd party credit card processing companies.

Property taxes are the most important revenue source for the city to ensure we continue to provide essential services for residents of the City of Burlington during these challenging circumstances. Taxpayers are encouraged to make payments where possible during these unique times.

At a special meeting of Council on March 3, 2021, City Council approved a 2021 COVID-19 Property Tax Deferral Payment Plan to provide relief to residents and businesses that continue to face financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The application-based program will allow eligible property owners who are unable to pay property taxes by the regularly scheduled tax due dates, to defer taxes under a pre-authorized payment plan. If eligible, equal monthly withdrawals will be made that will allow for the property taxes to be paid in full by Dec. 1, 2021.

To learn more about the tax deferral program, visit burlington.ca/propertytax

In-person activities are cancelled and City recreation facilities are closed. 

Yes, residents are asked to please be patient during this time as we expect it will take two to four weeks as staff process these cancellations. Those who paid using a credit card will be refunded to that same credit card if possible. All other payment methods will receive a credit to their Recreation accounts.

Following the processing of all cancellations, cheque refunds can be requested by emailing liveandplay@burlington.ca. Please be sure to include your full mailing address in your request. A confirmation email will be sent to you when your request has been processed. 

Any active recreation passes or memberships will be frozen as of April 3, 2021 and will be reactivated when our facilities open and programming can resume.

If you prefer to cancel your pass or membership and have a pro-rated credit placed on your account, please contact customer service at liveandplay@burlington.ca

If you have any questions and require any assistance, please contact us at liveandplay@burlington.ca or 905-335-7738.

If you are in a program not run by the City, please contact the organization directly.