Garage sales allowed to open in Ottawa as COVID restrictions ease
Garage sales have the green light to open in Ottawa during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ottawa Public Health and Ottawa Bylaw Services confirm garage sales are permitted to operate now that Ottawa is in Step 1 of Ontario’s reopening plan.
Garage sales are not specifically mentioned in the regulations, Bylaw Services director Roger Chapman said.
“Garage sales would be subject to the same restrictions as outdoor gatherings, which limits the number of people on the property to ten, including the host, and requires physical distancing yourself from people who are not part of your household."
Chapman also suggests wearing a mask if distances cannot be maintained.
"We recommend hand sanitizer to be made available prior to people browsing around the garage sale," said Chapman in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.
"We also recommend a virtual garage sale, with a contactless, curbside pickup option to prevent the spread of COVID-19."
Ottawa Public Health offers the following tips to keep you and others safe if hosting a garage sale:
- Follow capacity limits for outdoor gatherings by referring to the Reopening Ontario webpage.
- Put up posters outlining health measures (wear masks, maintain physical distancing and encourage hand hygiene).
- Restrict and manage traffic by asking people to wait nearby once the property reaches capacity.
- Set up and manage directional traffic flow, to minimize crowding.
- Set up sanitization stations so people can cleanse their hands before and after handling items.
Non-essential retails are permitted to open during Step 1 of the reopening plan, with capacity limited to 15 per cent of the store.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.