Emergency Care Establishment Application

Emergency Care Establishment:

An Emergency Care Establishment or E.C.E is an institutional use that provides a means of immediate, temporary accommodation and assistance for a Short-term period, generally less than one week, for the majority of the residents. 

For more information on the please see the Emergency Care Establishment By-law. 

Who is Required to Have a Licence:

A licence is required by any operator of an Emergency Care Establishment.

About the E.C.E

Among other things, this licensing system is intended to: 

  • Enhance the enforcement of the Zoning By-law provisions that require an E.C.E to be located in a Main Central Commercial Zone
  • Address issues related to Public Health and Safety; Consumer Protection; Nuisance Control and the General Well-being of Persons. 
  • Introduce a requirement to have a local contact available at all times to respond to issues and who is available to attend within a period of no greater than one hour from the time of contact by telephone or email. 
  • Introduce insurance requirements
  • Introduce a Code of Conduct

E.C.Es that are licenced in the Town of Cobourg will be listed here.

Corporation of the County of Northumberland (Owner)

Location: 555 Courthouse Road, Cobourg, ON K9A 5J6
Emergency Care Establishment Licence: ECE2025-003
Valid from: November 26, 2025 to March 31, 2026
24 Hour Contact: 1-877-770-2564
Services: The overnight winter Warming Room operates out of Committee Room A on the second floor, and will be open nightly from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. until March 31, 2026, offering warmth, washrooms, and light refreshments. It will be accessible from the rear of the County building using the upper parking lot entrance.



Owner County of Northumberland Transition House Emergency Shelter 

Location:  310 Division Street, Cobourg ON K9A 3R3 operated by Transition House Coalition of Northumberland
Emergency Care Establishment Licence: ECE-2025-001
Valid from: November 8, 2025 to November 8, 2026

 

Transition House Coalition of Northumberland (Operator)

Location:  310 Division Street, Cobourg ON K9A 3R3
Website: Home - Transition House (thshelter.ca)
24 Hour Contact: 905-376-9562
Emergency Care Establishment Licence: ECE-2025-002
Valid from: November 8, 2025 to November 8, 2026

Services: As Northumberland County’s emergency shelter, we provide safe, dignified and supportive temporary housing, life skills and transitional support services to men and women over the age of 18 from Cobourg, Port Hope, Grafton, Colborne, Campbellford, Brighton, Hamilton Township, and Alderville. Our service area includes all of Northumberland County.

 

Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre (Owner & Operator)

Location: 40 Swayne Street, Cobourg ON K9A 1K5
Website: Home | Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre
24 Hour Contact: 9 am to 4 pm 905-372-1545 Ext 228 / 4 pm to 9 am & weekends 905-372-0746
Emergency Care Establishment Licence: ECE01CS-2025
Valid from: January 24, 2025 to January 24, 2026
Services: “Established in 1983, Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre (Cornerstone) is an accredited violence against women agency working to end gender-based violence by providing accessible, compassionate, and best practice modeled programs and services inclusive of shelter, counselling, housing support, and prevention through a support system that inspires hope, creates safety, and fosters resilience. Our services provide a range of options and entry points, helping women gain the right kind of support at the right time in their journey. All services are free, confidential, woman-centered, inclusive, and accepting. All woman-identified individuals are welcome in all our spaces, including cis and trans–women.”

For access to shelter services call 905-372-0746.

The E.C.E is it is annual Licence and expires within one year of being issued. Once licensed each licensee is required to renew the Licence prior to expiry of the original Licence. Failing such renewal the Licensee must discontinue the operation of the business upon expiry of the Licence.

  • Application Fee: $150
  • Licence Fee: $150 
  • Exemption Fee: $125

To apply for an Emergency Care Establishment Licence, please fill out and submit an Emergency Care Establishment Application form.

The Town of Cobourg may exempt any person from all or any part of the Emergency Care Establishment By-law if it is satisfied that that the granting of the exemption would maintain the general intent and purpose of the By-law. The Town may impose such conditions as deemed appropriate in relation to an exemption. 

To request an exemption, please fill out and submit an Emergency Care Establishment Exemption Request form:

An applicant who has been denied a Licence may request to the Director of Legislative Services that their application be heard by the Hearings Officer to request that the Hearings Officer, in their discretion, issue the Licence in question. 

Please refer to the Request for Hearing form:

Where a person is denied an exemption or is dissatisfied with any condition imposed in relation to an exemption, the person may request a review by the Hearings Officer. 

The person’s right to request a review expires on the tenth day after notice of the Director’s decision is given to the person at which time the Director’s decision is final and not subject to review. 

Questions?

Contact:
Angela Stewart
Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services
E: astewart@cobourg.ca 
T: 905-372-8380

Contact Us

Town of Cobourg
55 King Street West
Cobourg, ON  K9A 2M2

Phone: 905-372-4301
Toll Free: 1-888-972-4301

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