COVID-19

Recreation - What's open and closed

Please stay local and only use parks and trails in your own neighbourhood and with people from your own household. While visiting a park or trail, you must continue to practice physical distancing by staying two metres (six feet) from others and you must not congregate in groups, unless you live together. If you arrive at a park, trail or amenity that is crowded, you are advised to wait until there is enough space to physically distance or return at another time. 

By-law officers are patrolling the city to ensure compliance. Those continuing to use closed park amenities and/or congregate in groups could receive a $750 ticket.

Community gardens 

The City recognizes the important role community gardens play in ensuring food security for some, as well as physical and mental health. With the announcement from the Province identifying community gardens as an essential service, the City opened its community gardens for the season on May 13.

The health and safety of staff and residents is our top priority. All community gardens (both allotment and collective) will operate following advice provided by York Region Public Health and the Province including, maintaining physical distance of two metres between people at all times, practicing good hand hygiene and staying home when you are sick.

For more information, visit the Community Gardens page.

Maintenance

• The City continues to inspect and maintain our parks, trails, boulevards and other public spaces. Seasonal work, such as litter collection, grass cutting and trimming is underway and will continue throughout the spring and summer.
• Our annual flowers, which were purchased last fall and grown in greenhouses over the winter, will be planted later this spring (weather permitting).  
• Measures are in place to ensure that staff can practice good hygiene and physical distancing. 
• You may notice sidewalk plows and windrow machines in your neighbourhood over the coming weeks. They are being used for transportation to allow physical distancing for our outside workers whenever possible.
• Occasionally, up to two people may be required to share transportation. Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided.

Waste collection

• At this time, garbage, recycling, organics and large appliance collection continue as scheduled.
• Yard waste collection began the week of April 21. Please visit the Yard Waste page for collection guidelines and dates.
• Garbage tags are not available for purchase while our facilities are closed. As a result, the garbage limit has been increased from 3 items to 6 during this time.
• Sales and exchanges of green bins and blue boxes are suspended until further notice.

York Region Public Waste Depots

• York Region’s Public Waste Depots remain open during regular service hours. Please visit york.ca/wastedepots for information on what waste items are being accepted at their respective sites. Please also note that to protect customers and staff, the depots are no longer accepting cash until further notice. You can pay by debit, MasterCard or Visa. 

Waste collection safety guidelines

To help keep our residents and contracted waste collection staff safe, please:

• Continue to carefully bag and tie all garbage and green bin materials in plastic bags.
• Dispose of masks, gloves and wipes in the garbage, not the blue box. If these items are found in the blue box, your recycling will not be collected.
• Dispose of paper towels and tissues in the green bin, not the blue box. If these items are found in the blue box, your recycling will not be collected.
• Do not flush any wipes down the toilet. Sewer blockages can occur.
• Do not litter. Dispose of masks, gloves, wipes and other hygiene products in the garbage.
• If someone in your home is ill, place all items they use in the garbage, not the blue box or green bin. 
• Wash your hands before and after handling waste and waste containers. Regularly clean your containers using soap and water.
• Support our collection staff by keeping the required 2 metre physical distancing. 

Visit the Garbage and Recycling page.

• Residents and businesses who are able should pay their property taxes on the scheduled due dates as this will help Richmond Hill to continue providing essential services. However, the City recognizes under the current unique circumstances some residents and businesses may require additional time.
• Richmond Hill has moved the May 1 property tax installment due date to June 1.
• Richmond Hill has waived penalties and interest on late property tax payments through January 1, 2021 to support individuals and businesses struggling financially due to COVID-19.
• Account holders on the pre-authorized debit program who wish to withdraw from the program should visit the pre-authorized debit program page for more information.
• The City’s NSF (non-sufficient funds) fee of $45 is waived for the remainder of 2020. 
• The City offers various tax payment options, including a new credit card option. However, Access Richmond Hill in-person services are temporarily suspended.  

Visit the Property Tax Billings page.

• Residents and businesses who are able should pay their water bills on the scheduled due dates to help Richmond Hill continue to provide essential services.
• Richmond Hill will continue to distribute water bills but there will be no penalties for late payments through January 1, 2021 to support individuals and businesses struggling financially due to COVID-19. 
• Richmond Hill is maintaining 2019 stormwater, wastewater and water rates until 2021.
• Account holders on the pre-authorized debit program who wish to withdraw from the program should visit the pre-authorized debit program page for more information.
• The City’s NSF (non-sufficient funds) fee of $45 is waived for the remainder of 2020.
• Water meter maintenance involving entering an occupied residence is on hold until further notice. 

• The City has suspended enforcement of prohibitions against overnight street parking, and cancelled the Temporary Parking Permit program. Residents can now park personal use vehicles overnight on streets without the need to purchase a permit provided vehicles are parked in accordance with other parking rules posted on the Parking page.
• The City has suspended enforcement of the 3 hour maximum on-street parking regulation for personal use vehicles. Please note this suspension of enforcement does not apply to commercial vehicles.
• The City has suspended enforcement of parking regulations in school zones (this includes Monday to Friday restrictions on stopping, parking and standing within 500 metres of schools).
• The City has suspended enforcement of Noise By-law prohibitions which apply to after-hour delivery of supplies to retailers.
• Until further notice, all in-person Screening Review appointments will be conducted by phone interview.

Visit the Parking page.

• The City will continue to accept and review development applications. Applicants are asked to submit documentation via courier.
• The City will continue to issue all development application related documents (including Site Plan Agreements, Pre-Submission Letters, Circulation Comment Summaries, etc.). This documentation will be forwarded via Canada Post or courier.
• The City will continue to execute agreements and accept executed agreements by scheduled appointments.
• Development Engineering and Transportation staff will continue to do limited inspections of Grading Inquiries, Traffic Inquiries and Site Alteration/Single Family Permits, provided no public contact is involved

Visit the Planning Development page.

• Richmond Hill has implemented Interim Guidelines for outdoor patios and sales areas, until a new Temporary Use By-law can be considered. 

For more information, visit the Applications, Licences and Permits page. 

• Building permit applications can be made by mail, courier or drop-off. There is also a new online option for Residential Building Permits. City staff will contact individuals regarding building permits that are ready to issue to arrange pick-up. Appointments that are scheduled will take place at the Access Richmond Hill counter (ground floor, 225 East Beaver Creek Road). We will advise of any outstanding fees, charges, etc. when the permit is ready to be issued.

Visit the Building Permits page or the Sign Permit page.

• There will be no inspections related to dwelling units for interior alterations, additions, finishing a basement etc. until further notice.
• There will be no inspections related to other occupancies where a premise, suite or unit is occupied by the public until further notice.
• Inspections of non-occupied premises may occur; however, the Building Official may refuse to conduct an inspection if they believe that their personal health and safety is at risk.

Visit the Building Inspections page.

To determine how your property is zoned and the applicable by-law please see the zoning index map. For additional zoning by-law information, please email us at planning@richmondhill.ca. Phone service is not available at this time.

Compliance letters and related requests are available. Contact us at 905-771-8810 or building@richmondhill.ca. Please note, we cannot offer expedited service at this time.

Trees on public property

The City continues to maintain our urban forest and respond to reports of damaged trees on public property. To report a public tree in need of attention, fill out and submit the online service request form.

Boulevard repair

• Contractors will be repairing and replacing damaged sod along boulevards beginning in mid-May.
• If the boulevard sod adjacent to your home has been repaired, you can help by watering it as necessary.
• The City will be working with contractors to ensure they work in compliance with the latest health restrictions.
• Inquiries can be directed to Access Richmond Hill at access@richmondhill.ca or 905-771-8800.