Updates from Ottawa Public Health - March 9, 2023
The City will temporarily suspend its in-person counter services and move to online services, effective Thursday, January 6, due to the surge of the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19. Employment and Social Services and Rent Supplement offices will go to remote services on Monday, January 10.
This mitigation measure will help prevent the spread while continuing to provide effective and efficient services to residents.
The suspended in-person and altered counter services include:
Client Service Centres
- All Client Service Centres will close and move to online service delivery only. For further details, please visit Ottawa.ca/CSC or contact us by dialing 3-1-1 and pressing option # 6.
- Building Code Services will also move to online services with courier, curbside, email ([email protected]) or telephone ( 613-580-2424, extension 29312).
Business Licensing Centre
- The Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Avenue will be open for drop-off of documents by appointment only. Alternate methods of service will be provided such as electronic submission and telephone for new businesses and renewals. Clients can call 613-580-2424 ext. 12735 or email [email protected].
City of Ottawa Archives
- The City's Central Archives' Reference Room at the James K. Bartleman Centre, located at 100 Tallwood Drive and the Rideau Archives in North Gower will temporarily suspend in-person services.
Employment and Social Services and Rent Supplement Offices – effective Monday, January 10
- Effective January 10, Employment and Social Services and Rent Supplement office counter services are temporarily closed. Staff are available to help residents by phone, email and mail, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
- Where an emergency need for in-person service is required, residents can visit the office and further assessment will be done.
- Residents needing financial assistance are asked to call 1-888-999-1142 or visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/social-assistance, or call 3-1-1 and select option # 4 for Social Services for information on all programs and services.
- Ontario Works recipients can provide necessary documents through email or coordinate document drop off through their caseworker.
Services currently unchanged or altered
Ottawa Library Services
Ottawa Public Library (OPL) branches will be open with the current capacity restrictions. You can consult OPL’s hours and locations web page at any time. Visit the OPL website for further information and learn how you can also access library services online.
Provincial Offence Act Court
Court proceedings will continue to be heard remotely and no Justice of the Peace will be present at any of the locations. If you received a summons to appear in court, do not attend court in-person at 100 Constellation. 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.
For defendants who have changed their address with MTO/Service Ontario, it does not automatically 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.
OC Transpo Customer Service Centre – Rideau Centre
The OC Transpo Customer Service Centre in the Rideau Centre remains open.
- Hours of operation can be found on octranspo.com
- Plan ahead: call 613-560-5000 to book an appointment.
- All other OC Transpo Customer Service Centres remain closed.
Acquiring City services or doing transactions online
While all counter services are suspended, residents can acquire services and complete payments and registrations online or by phone or cheque. Please confirm with your City contact prior to mailing a cheque.
Residents can go to myservice.ottawa.ca to pay water bills and property taxes. If you do not have an account, registration is simple – just sign-up with your email address. Once registered, you’ll need your account or property roll number to pay your bill.
City bills have other payment options besides the myservice.ottawa.ca accounts, which include:
- Paying by credit or debit card online at ottawa.ca
- Paying through your financial institution by creating a payee number on your institution’s mobile app or through an ATM machine
- Paying by phone with your financial institution
- Sending a cheque by mail
Visit ottawa.ca to access many other services online as well – including pet registration, open-air fire permit, parking tickets, and load Presto Cards.
