Program & Service Updates

Based on the public health guidelines from the Province of Ontario, outdoor gatherings are prohibited with anyone who does not live within your immediate household as per the Provincewide Shutdown and Stay-at-Home Order.

• Victoria Beach
• Off Leash Dog Park
• Benches, Gazebos and Picnic Tables
• Playground Structures
• Splashpad (closed for the season)
• Transit
• Library (curbside pick-up only)
• Parking
• Municipal Trails
• Fishing and Access to the Water

Hours of Operation: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (please note that Victoria Hall municipal offices are closed to the public, and that staff are distributing their time working in the office, remotely from home and/or the field to maintain business continuity and service levels, and to ensure the health and safety of the public and employees.

Until further notice, we encourage all business and communication to be done through e-mail (however video-conferencing or telephone methods remain viable options), and that application and plan submissions be conducted using digital means and/or courier wherever possible. For deliveries and other activities requiring direct access to Victoria Hall, the Town of Cobourg has established strict delivery, screening and sign-in protocols for all visitors in the name of health and safety.  Please contact Building & Planning Department staff in advance to determine what alternatives are possible, including coordinating drop-off deliveries at Victoria Hall.  Payment for applications, permits and other matters can be made via a cheque delivered by mail, courier or deposited into the Finance Department mail slot on the west side of Victoria Hall.

Department Phone: (905) 372-1005 (please note that staff voicemail will be checked periodically and as quickly as possible – for optimum results, it is recommended that communication occur via e-mail to the contacts listed below)

Department Contact: Adriane Miller, Administrative Assistant, amiller@cobourg.ca

Website: View Building and Planning Department webpage

General E-mail Enquiries:  planninginfo@cobourg.ca

View our Patio Guidelines for interested businesses looking to re-open their patios. 

In accordance with the directions from the Provincial government, the following is a summary of the services currently being performed in the Building & Planning Department:

Building Department

Current services include:

• Building, Sign, Pool & Plumbing Permit administration, including application receipt, processing, payment, plans review, inspections, enforcement
• Liquor License Approvals
• Emergency building inspections, property standards services and other critical life safety related matters
• Permit database management and reporting (CityWorks Permits, Land and Licensing – PLL)

We are actively evaluating our resource needs and capability to allow for the following services on a limited basis only:

• Building/Work Order legal property enquiries
• General building information requests or complaints, other than emergency and life safety related matters
• Municipal addressing

Contacts

David Hancock, Chief Building Official, dhancock@cobourg.ca    

Jered Marshall, Building Inspector/Plans Examiner, jmarshall@cobourg.ca  

Pharen Wilson, Plans Examiner/Inspector, pwilson@cobourg.ca  

Kirk Johnstone, County Plumbing Inspector, johnstonek@cobourg.ca  

Planning Department

Current services include:

• Review of Planning Act applications
  
• Review of Heritage Act and Heritage Permit applications
• Information requests or complaints that involve emergency and/or life safety related matters
• Planning Act application database management and reporting (CityWorks Permits, Land and Licensing – PLL)

We are actively evaluating our resource needs and capability to allow for the following services on a limited basis only:

• Official Plan/Zoning By-law legal property enquiries
• General zoning or similar planning information requests or complaints, other than emergency and/or life safety related matters

Contacts

Glenn McGlashon, Director – Planning & Development Division, gmcglashon@cobourg.ca  

Rob Franklin, Manager, Planning, rfranklin@cobourg.ca  

Dave Johnson, Planner I, Heritage, djohnson@cobourg.ca  

The Town of Cobourg's Bylaw Enforcement Officers and the Cobourg Police are committed to protecting the health and safety of our community. Our officers are out in the community and responding to calls about violations. We will be enforcing penalties for anyone failing to comply with emergency orders under the Ontario Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, along with the Canada Quarantine Act, 

Failure to comply with an emergency order could carry punishments of;
• $750 for failure to comply with an order made under the EMCPA
• $1,000 for obstructing any person exercising a power in accordance with an order made during a declared emergency
• $1,000 for obstructing any person performing a duty in accordance with an order made during a declared emergency
• up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual
• $500,000 for a director of a corporation
• $10,000,000 for a corporation itself if a provincial offences officer charges the individual by issuing a summons

Frequently Asked Questions

Early learning and child care operators are working with the Ministry of Education, Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Northumberland County's Early Years Services team to ensure child care facilities and early learning professionals are prepared and program policies are established to re-open safely during the ongoing pandemic. The details and the timelines for programs re-opening vary. Families are encouraged to contact their service provider directly for additional information.

Staff are actively evaluating municipal event permits based on the recommendation and direction from the provincial and federal government. Staff continue to work with community groups and individuals regarding event cancellations or postponements.

Events Cancelled in 2021

• Cobourg Waterfront Festival
• Canada Day Parade and Fireworks

Contact Information:

Phone: 905-373-7976
Email: Jackie Chapman Davis, Community Events Coordinator, jchapmandavis@cobourg.ca or Kara Euale, Manager, Marketing and Events, keuale@cobourg.ca

Learn more:

Press Release: Cobourg’s Waterfront Festival and Canada Day Celebrations Cancelled due to COVID-19

The Town of Cobourg has amended its Procedural By-law to allow for electronic participation at Council meetings during a declared emergency.  Council meetings will continue as regularly scheduled unless otherwise noted. The Procedural By-law will continue to apply to such Council meetings including the conduct of business on an agenda, unless modifications are necessary because of limitations to the technology being used.

This Protocol has been established by the Clerk to advise how to participate in the public portions of these meetings.  Such procedures may be modified slightly from usual procedures given the use of technology for electronic participation.  All electronic Council meetings will be streamed live, where possible, or posted for later viewing on eSCRIBE. Council Agendas will continue to be published five (10) days in advance of the Committee of the Whole meeting date. 

Meeting information and schedules will be updated at www.cobourg.ca/escribe

Please be advised that all Advisory Committee Meetings and Quasi-Judicial Boards have been cancelled until further notice due to the current situation around COVID-19. The Town will provide Notice to the Public when Advisory Committees will continue to be held. 

The Ministry of the Attorney General has notified the public of changes to Provincial Offences Act proceedings in Ontario.

All Provincial Offences-related court appearances have been postponed until after September 11, 2020.

If an individual has a matter before the Provincial Offences court scheduled before this time they do not need to attend court. Notice of a new court date will be sent to the individual by mail, to the address on file with the court.

Administrative offices for Provincial Offences Act (POA) matters in Northumberland, located at 860 William Street, Cobourg, have been closed to the public as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. However, POA staff continue to provide administrative services such as processing of tickets, fines, and applications to the court.

• Phone: 905-372-3329 ext. 5300
• Email: poainfo@northumberlandcounty.ca
• Fax: 905-372-6529

Residents are encouraged to pay tickets online, and to access online forms, by visiting Northumberland.ca/POA.

Lakefront Utilities

Beginning Tuesday, August 4th, Lakefront’s Office at 207 Division Street will be open to customers from 10:00am – 2:00pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Customers can also make an appointment if these times are not convenient. Masks are mandatory when visiting Lakefront’s Office, some exceptions apply.

The Government of Ontario has introduced a COVID-19 Recovery Rate of 12.8¢/kWh for all time-of-use (TOU) electricity customers, to support Ontarians as we restart the economy.  Households, farms and small businesses who pay time-of-use electricity rates will be charged this fixed rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, starting June 1, 2020.

This rate will be automatically reflected on TOU customers’ electricity bills for all three TOU periods, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is intended to be in place until October 31, 2020.

To learn more about Time of Use visit the Ontario Energy Board.

PAYMENT RELIEF

We recognize that this is a difficult time for everyone, and we want our customers to know that we are here to support them. As part of Lakefront’s commitment to customers, we have offered:

1. Increased payment flexibility to customers experiencing hardship. If you are concerned about paying your bill, or have been impacted by the pandemic, Lakefront wants to help. Please call us to discuss payment arrangements in order to provide more time to pay outstanding balances.
2. We understand the unique challenges for everyone, and some customers may have difficulty making their monthly payments. Effective March 16, 2020, Lakefront will be removing all interest charges on outstanding balances until August 31, 2020.
3. The Province’s winter hydro disconnection moratorium is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2020. Lakefront has extended the disconnection moratorium until July 31, 2020.  

To make a bill payment: 

• Sign up for Pre-authorized payment by due date
• Visit the customer portal https://myaccount.lakefrontutilities.com/app/
• Telephone and online (internet) banking through your bank/financial institution
• Bank branch or financial institution instant teller
• Cheque via mail
• Credit Card payment service available through Paymentus - 1-888-896-0976 or this link: https://ipn.paymentus.com/otp/stde/lfu
• You may continue to use our drop box at all our office locations

Emergency response by Cobourg Police Services, Cobourg Fire Services and Northumberland County Paramedic Services will not be impacted.

Emergency Operations Centre

The Town of Cobourg's Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is engaged and operating daily in response to COVID-19 and is staffed by key managers across the Town's divisions and agencies. 

The emergency response is led by the EOC's Director and Chief Administrative Officer Tracey Vaughan along with Fire Chief and Community Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Vilneff in close collaboration with the Federal and Provincial Governments as well as the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy. 

All Town staff who work within the Emergency Control Group receive annual Emergency Management training specific to their function and are working diligently to keep our community safe. 

Contact Information
For additional information in regards to the EOC or the Town's emergency response please contact Shannon Murphy, Emergency Planner by emailing smurphy@cobourg.ca. 

Municipal offices are currently closed to the public, however, staff continue to work with community groups and individuals regarding program and event cancellations, refunds and re-bookings. Staff are also actively preparing for the transition back to normal operations based on the recommendations and direction from the provincial and federal governments.

Contact

Cobourg Community Centre, Baseball Diamonds, Rugby Pitches, Soccer Fields, Victoria Beach, Victoria Park Pavilion

Phone: 905-372-7371 (monitored from 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday)

Email: Krista Williams, Recreation Coordinator, kwilliams@cobourg.ca or Allison Greer, Recreation Coordinator, agreer@cobourg.ca

• Second Hand Goods Licensing: Renewals can be sent in by email, mail or placed in the designated Drop Box located in at the West side of Victoria Hall.
• Refreshment Vehicle Licensing: Renewals can be sent in by email, mail or placed in the designated Drop Box located in at the West side of Victoria Hall.
• Alcohol Licensing: Applications can be sent in by email, mail or placed in the designated Drop Box located in at the West side of Victoria Hall.
• Patio Permits: Applications can be sent in by email (patios@cobourg.ca), mail or placed in the designated Drop Box located in at the West side of Victoria Hall.
• Merchandise Display Permits: Applications can be sent in by email, mail or placed in the designated Drop Box located in at the West side of Victoria Hall.
• Charitable Gaming Licensing: Applications can be sent in by email, mail or placed in the designated Drop Box located in at the West side of Victoria Hall.
• Burial Permits and Death Registration: will proceed as normal by appointment only with the Legislative Services Department.
• Commissioner of Oaths/ Affidavits: Appointment can be made by calling Legislative Services at 905-372-4301. Appointments are available Monday to Thursday (except for Holidays) from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Marriage Licences has resumed issuing Marriage Licences. Please visit www.cobourg.ca/marriage to learn more.
• Victoria Hall & Court Room Bookings: No new applications will be accepted until further notice.
• Market Building Bookings: No new applications will be accepted until further notice.

The Cobourg Marina is now closed for the winter season.

Contact Information 

Phone: 905-372-2397 (monitored from 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday).

Email: jbehanjones@cobourg.ca

Website: www.cobourg.ca/en/Marina.aspx#  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/cobourgmarina/

Art Gallery of Northumberland

The Art Gallery of Northumberland is now closed as per the Provincewide "Emergency Brake: Shutdown until at least May 1, 2021.

Farmer's Market

The Farmer's Market is now closed for the winter season.

Plarks

Parks are open for regular use, however organized team sports are not permitted.

Playgrounds

All play equipment and play structures have reopened. The equipment is not sanitized. Use at your own risk.

Forestry

The Parks Department staff continue to carry out emergency hazard inspections and maintenance. 

The Cobourg Police Service continues to receive updates from agencies regarding the  COVID-19 global pandemic. The Cobourg Police Service will monitor the health of all our employees so that we can continue to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our community. There has been no disruption in service, but we are planning for contingencies that may include impacts on staffing levels.

The Cobourg Police Service will be making the following changes to protect staff and members of the public to minimize transmission of the virus;

• If you need to attend the Cobourg Police Station you may be subject to a non-intrusive screening process.
• When you call Police Dispatch, you will also go through a screening process regarding COVID-19 health risks. We understand that this may cause concerns, but this is for the safety of our members and the public.
• Effective immediately we will process some non-emergency calls over the phone instead of having an officer attend. This will be managed on a case by case basis by continued use of our tiered policing model.
• You may see some members of the Cobourg Police Service wearing protective equipment like masks or gloves. This will be for their own protection only. 

The Cobourg Police Service would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding. We would like to stress that there is no disruption in day to day activities and the Cobourg Police Service will continue to provide service to the Town of Cobourg.

Conventional Transit Route 2 will be running equivalent to Route 1 beginning Monday, July 13, 2020.

Route 1 and Route 2 Hours of Operation:

• Monday to Friday - 7:15 am to 5:45 pm
• Saturday - 8:45 am to 3:45 pm

Transit will be available at no charge until further notice in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by reducing interaction with drivers, other transit commuters and the passing of change and tickets. 

WHEELS Transit

Effective November 2, 2020 WHEELS Transit operating hours will return to regular operating hours. At the Regular Council meeting on October 13, 2020 Council passed a motion to approve WHEELS Transit returning to regular operating hours.  

Beginning Monday, November 2, 2020 WHEELS Transit operating hours will be as follows:

Monday to Friday: 6:15 a.m.to 10 p.m.
Saturday: 8:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Sunday: 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

The Engineering Department would also like to remind riders that non-medical masks or face coverings are mandatory on all Cobourg Transit buses and at transit shelters to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19.

Mask or Face Coverings:

Effective immediately, wearing a non-medical mask or face covering will be mandatory when travelling on Town of Cobourg transit buses and at transit shelters to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19.

By wearing a non-medical mask or face coverings, passengers can help protect the health and safety of the drivers and other passengers while reducing the likelihood of unknowingly spreading the COVID-19 virus.

Those exempt from this recommendation may include:

• Children under the age of two years.
• Children under the age of 5 years (either chronologically or developmentally) who refuse to wear a face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver.
• Any person unable to remove a mask without assistance.
• For any medical reason: a person who cannot safely wear a non-medical mask or face covering such as, but not limited to, respiratory disease, cognitive difficulties or difficulties in hearing or processing information.
• For any religious reason: a person cannot wear a non-medical mask or face covering or cannot cover the face in a manner that would properly control the source.

Cobourg Transit remains free for all passengers and will continue to board passengers through the rear doors. The Town of Cobourg thanks you for your patience and cooperation as we continue to protect our community.

Cobourg Community Centre

The Cobourg Community Centre is now closed as per the Provincewide "Emergency Brake: Shutdown until at least May 1, 2021, with the exception of the mass immunization clinic operated by the HKPR District Health Unit.

Northumberland YMCA

The Cobourg YMCA now closed as per the Provincewide "Emergency Brake" Shutdown with the exception of day camps and child care..

Learn more at www.ymcanrt.org.

Emergency Homelessness Shelter

Shelter services for individuals experiencing homelessness have resumed at Transition House shelter's Chapel Street, Cobourg location as of Friday, July 17. At that time, operations concluded at the temporary emergency homelessness shelter at Cobourg Collegiate Institute (CCI), established in the early days of COVID-19.

Warming & Cooling Centres

Starting December 21, an overnight Warming Room will be available to the community, where residents in need can take shelter from the cold and access washrooms and light refreshments. Implemented as an additional service to existing homelessness system resources including emergency shelter services and diversion supports, the Warming Room will be located at Columbus Hall, 232 Spencer Street, East in Cobourg. This service will be offered seven days a week from 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m until the end of March 2021.

The Warming Room will be managed through a partnership between Northumberland County, Green Wood Coalition and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church. This initiative is being funded with Social Services Relief Funding, announced by the provincial government to enhance social services during COVID-19. Delivering important flexibility to create local solutions that address local needs, this funding is supporting a range of homelessness prevention measures in Northumberland that reinforce a coordinated response.

For more information about resources for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Northumberland, visit Northumberland County's Housing and Shelter page.

Cobourg Box Office and Concert Hall at Victoria Hall

At this time, as a precautionary step to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the well-being of our patrons, all upcoming shows and productions have been cancelled or postponed. Staff are contacting each individual ticket holder directly regarding refunds.

Staff are also actively preparing for the transition back to normal operations based on the recommendations and direction from the provincial and federal governments. Staff continue to work with customers, community groups and other partners to facilitate the re-booking of our 2020 lineup when it is safe to do so.

The Cobourg Box Office is currently closed to the public.

Contact Information

Email: concerthall@cobourg.ca

Firehall Theatre

The Firehall Theatre located at 213 Second Street has cancelled all shows, rehearsals, events and programs. 

The Box Office remains open but citizens are encouraged to please call (905) 372-0577 instead of coming in.

The Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre is hosting virtual webinars and workshops. The facility is open for members only, closed to the general public.

Learn more at www.venture13.ca. 

Victoria Hall (Town Hall)

Victoria Hall is closed to the public. Citizens are encouraged to call Town Hall at 905-372-4301 for assistance.

The campground is no closed for the winter season.

Contact Information 

Phone: 905-372-2397 (monitored from 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday)

Email: jbehanjones@cobourg.ca

Website: www.cobourg.ca/en/town-hall/Victoria-Park-Campground.aspx?_mid_=126181

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/victoriaparkcampground/

Learn More:

Press Release: Cobourg Marina and Victoria Park Campground Remain Closed Due to COVID-19

Weekly curbside collection continues as scheduled. The County encourages residents to make use of curbside services to dispose of their day-to-day waste, recyclables and green bin materials. 

Bag tag requirements

Bag tags are required on each bag of garbage set out for collection. A maximum two-bag limit per week per household remains in place.   

Bag tags available for purchase online

In order to increase availability of online services and further promote physical distancing, Northumberland County has launched an online service for residents to purchase bag tags directly through the County website for home delivery. This service is available on a trial basis as the County assesses resident interest and uptake.  

Landfill and transfer stations (Community Recycling Centres)

Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) in Bewdley, Seymour, and Brighton were closed temporarily however as of May 1, all CRCs have reopened to the public. In combination with ongoing curbside collection, access to the CRCs will further ensure that residents are able to dispose of all urgent waste items.

As of June 1, all CRCs are now open during their regular days and hours of operation.

Restrictions remain in place at all CRCs to protect the health and safety of staff and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes:

• Limiting the number of vehicles entering the site at one time (please note that customers may experience delays in excess of 30 minutes entering the CRCs)
• Limiting payment methods to debit and credit only
• Household Hazardous Waste will be accepted during specific hours at the Bewdley and Brighton CRCs

With current public health direction that people stay home as much as possible, Northumberland County strongly encourages residents to limit trips to the CRCs to essential waste disposal only at this time. If you have capacity to store items at home, please do so until CRCs return to normal operations.

Safe waste disposal

Going forward, all household garbage must be in bags. Loose garbage in cans will not be collected. Please remember to put used masks, gloves, wipes, other types of medical waste and Kleenex in the garbage, not recycling.

Kitchen waste must be in a certified compostable bag, tied, in the green bin.

Household hazardous waste

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is now accepted at our Bewdley and Brighton Community Recycling Centres (CRC) during the following hours: 

Bewdley CRC:

Tuesday and Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Brighton CRC:

Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Seymour and Cobourg HHW depots remain closed.

Recycling boxes & Lids

Blue and grey Recycle Right box and lid exchanges/purchases are temporarily unavailable.

Driver safety

Please practice social distancing around waste collection staff. While we know you may want to show your appreciation for the necessary and hard work they continue to do, please do so by giving the a wave or a smile, from at least six feet away.

Visit northumberland.ca/covid19 for complete details.

Weddings

Marriage Licensing

The Town of Cobourg’s Legislative Services Department has resumed issuing Marriage Licences and conducting Civil Marriage Ceremonies, while following public health guidelines and restrictions.

The following steps will be taken to safely process a Marriage Licence application:

1. Call for a Processing Appointment: Applicants must call 905-372-4301 to arrange for an in-person appointment. Appointments are available Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

2. Completing the Application: Applicants must complete and sign Marriage Licence Application in advance and submit a scanned or photographed copy along with necessary documentation electronically by emailing weddings@cobourg.ca . Staff will review all submitted documents. Staff will contact the Applicants with specific instructions on appearing for their private in-person “curb-side” processing appointment.

3. Curbside Processing Appointment: In order to minimize exposure to our staff, Victoria Hall will remain closed to the public and applicants will not be permitted to enter. Instead, the Legislative Services Department is offering a “curbside appointment” as follows:

Applicants must bring all original documents, the original application and the $125 licensing fee in individually sealed bags.

Staff will meet applicants at the rear east delivery door of Victoria Hall to confirm identification and accept the documentation in sealed bags.

Staff will process the Marriage Licence and issue to the applicants. The appointment usually lasts 20-40 minutes.

To learn more and download the Marriage Licence application, please visit www.cobourg.ca/marriage.

Marriage Ceremonies

The Town of Cobourg also conducts Civil Marriage Ceremonies for $300 which will now take place in the Victoria Hall Concert Hall until further notice. Ceremonies can be scheduled Friday afternoons at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (except on holidays), and typically range from 10-20 minutes in length. As per the Province of Ontario restrictions, ceremonies will be limited to five (5) people, inclusive of the married couple, two witnesses and our Town Officiant while adhering to public health guidelines and increased safety protocols during the ceremony.