This page is for all the news and announcements from the City of St. John's related to precautionary measures undertaken to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Please note that as of August 24, 2020, non-medical masks must be worn inside any public facility, including municipal buildings.

Remaining closed to public access: 

• The Welcome Centre, 348 Water Street, is closed. Contact us: Business 576-8107 or business@stjohns.ca; Visitors 576-8106 or 1-844-570-2009 or tourism@stjohns.ca
• The City Archives, 15 Terra Nova Road, is closed
• The Animal Care & Adoption Centre is closed; for emergenices contact Access St. John's at 311, 754-CITY (2489) or access@stjohns.ca

Contact Us
In-person service at the Access St. John’s Citizen Service Centre, on the first floor of City Hall, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Residents can continue to contact the City through Access St. John's in the following ways:

• Report problems via our free app 311 St. John's
• Submit a service request online
• Email access@stjohns.ca
• Call 311 or 754-CITY (2489)
• Anything that can be emailed should be sent to access@stjohns.ca instead of faxed, due to the fact that many staff are working remotely. 
• Most payments by debit or credit card can be made by calling Access St. John's. Please do not fax or email credit card information.
• Non-profit housing clients may call 576-8196 or email housing@stjohns.ca.

Please note: 
You may be asked screening questions by City staff for in-person service: City staff will be provided with a list of standard screening questions they may ask residents before meeting with any members of the public or entering any private or commercial property; these measures are being taken to protect both staff and the general public and to ensure the continuity of services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses and Developers
The City has developed a new resource page for business-owners or those looking for infomration on business in St. John's. The page includes a business resource and information hub with links to resources for businesses during the global pandemic.

Council Update

• As of Sept. 28 City Council are meeting in Council Chambers as modifications, including the installation of plexiglass, have been made to ensure social distancing can be maintained. Council Chambers remain closed to the public and media until further notice, and meetings continue to be broadcast live and archived on the City’s website at stjohns.ca/councilmeetings.

Garbage and Recycling

• Regularly scheduled garbage collection is not impacted by COVID-19.
• Yard waste placed at the curb - including grass, leaves, soil, sod and small branches - must be placed in paper yard waste bags to be collected. All of the paper bagged yard waste will be composted on-site at Robin Hood Bay.
• For hours of operation, visit robinhoodbay.ca

Humane Services 

• The City of St. John’s Humane Services has resumed its low cost cat neuter program and begin offering contactless animal adoptions. For details, go here.
• ​The shelter remains closed to the public. During this time our services are suspended for the low cost spay program, owner surrenders for adoption and euthanasia service.
• We are responding to stray medical emergencies and animal control issues. If you have an emergency or animal control concern, contact Access St. John's by calling 311 or 754-2489 (CITY) or email access@stjohns.ca.
• Report lost and found animals by email at humaneservices@stjohns.ca.

Municipal Parks

• Picnic areas at City Parks are now open to the public.
• Skate parks and hard surface courts open 
• Please bring and use hand sanitizer as City playgrounds and maintain social distaincing.
• City-owned tennis courts are available for play.
• The Loop in Bannerman Park is open with a maximum capacity of 15 patrons; this is required to eliminate overcrowding and maximize physical distancing.
• The duck pond at Bowring Park is open.
• Gatherings are permitted according to the current provincial Alert Level; please check the provincial site for guidelines.
• Garbage receptacles are installed and serviced in parks.
• Dog Parks are open. Dogs are not permitted in City outdoor sporting facilities (ie. ball fields) but are permitted to be walked on-leash in parks and open spaces. Please pick up after your pet. 
• Outdoor washrooms will be open and serviced twice per day; before noon and mid – afternoon; the hours of operation for washrooms will be posted at each facility.
• Community gardens are permitted to operate, with restrictions posted at the site.
• Outdoor activities, including walking, hiking and riding are encouraged as long as physical distancing can be maintained and you are not required to self-isolate for any reason. Residents are asked to please stay within their ‘bubble’ and to practice physical distancing while enjoying the City’s municipal parks. One directional travel signs will be posted on trails that do not allow for 2m separation for two way directional walking/riding.

For a full list of parks operated by the City of St. John’s, please visit the City’s parks page.

Permits - Residential and Commercial

• Patios and decks
• Fences
• Accessory buildings (such as sheds)
• General Repairs

For more on the permit process, please visit our permits webpage. 

Recreation

• Our Red Cross Swim offerings this fall have been modified to maintain physical distancing. For preschool age and Level 1-4 sessions, a caregiver age 19+ is required to be in the water at all times during the lesson with each child.
• Indoor pools at Mews & Paul Reynolds and all recreation facilities and community centres are open.
• Pre-registration is required for indoor swims and aquatic fitness classes; for this and more details read our Reopening Plans.

Tax Payments: 

• NEW: Residents who are in currently in receipt of the 2020 Senior Citizen Tax Reduction that the discount will be automatically extended for tax year 2021. Seniors who wish to avail of this tax reduction program can visit this page for details or may call 576-8251 for eligibility requirements.
• Effective immediately, the City will not be charging interest on commercial and residential property taxes or water meter tax up to and including December 31, 2020.
• In order to keep taxpayers informed, bills will still be issued and sent, however taxpayers will automatically not be charged interest on late payments.
• This relief does not apply to Robin Hood Bay tipping fees, however the scheduled tipping fee increase from $67.60 to $75 has been delayed from August 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021.
• Property owners have their tax and mortgage payments combined by their bank need to contact your bank to discuss options regarding tax relief.
• If you have questions or concerns about this tax relief announcement, please call 576-8251 to speak with a staff person.
• Tax payments can be made online or through bank deduction. See below for details on how you can make preauthorized payments through your bank for City of St. John’s taxes. Your account number is on your municipal tax bill. Omit the first two zeros when prompted for your account number.

All City Messages

NEW: Senior Citizen Tax Reduction Automatically Extended
Update on City Services Sept. 28
Access Centre to Reopen September 8
Residential Parking Permit Renewal Extended
Modified Learn to Swim Program
Recreation Update July 21
Update on City Services July 10
Update on Commercial Operations at Robin Hood Bay
Council Extends Interest Relief and Expedites Application Process for Outdoor Spaces
Update on City Services July 3
Sewer Backup Service Re-instated
Outdoor Pools Open July 2
Update on Service June 25
Update on Service June 18
Transportation Changes to Support Social Distancing
Book an Appointment for Bulk & Metal Collection
Alert Level 3 Impact to City Services
Restrictions Easing in Municipal Parks; Tennis Courts to Open May 29
Waste Announcements: RDO & Curbside Recycling & Yard Waste
Bulk Garbage Accepted as of May 19
City Officials Concerned About Behaviour in Parks
Humane Services to Offer Low Cost Cat Neuter and Contactless Adoptions
Municipal Parks to Reopen May 11
RDO to Open for Bagged Household Garbage May 11
Planning Underway to Repoen RDO and Parks
Fast Facts on Litter Collection
Yard Waste Pick-Up Postponed for May
Recycling to Resume Monthly; St. George's Day Notices
Fast Facts on Laptop Purchases
Council Considers Street Network Changes
City Seeking Feedback on Public Engagement
Private Sewer Lateral Service Discontinued
Thank-You Virtual Event for Essential Workers
COVID-19 Update for March 25, 2020
COVID-19 Update for March 24, 2020
Tax Relief for Commerical and Residential Property Owners
City Council Meeting Postponed
COVID-19 Update for March 21, 2020
COVID-19 Update for March 19, 2020
COVID-19 Update for March 17, 2020
Factility Closures Due to COVID-19
City Monitoring COVID-19 Situation

Other helpful links:
Self-isolation information from the provincial government.
Provincial COVID-19 website
Travel advisories in Canada are posted here.
Information on COVID-19 from the Public Health Agency of Canada.