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COVID-19 Support for Edmonton Businesses

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Updated June 18, 2021

On June 10, Alberta entered Stage 2 of reopening. This includes COVID-19 restriction changes for restaurants, retail, hotels and community halls, churches and funeral homes, performance and recreation, personal and wellness services, and workplaces. This stage will remain in place for 2 weeks and will be extended if necessary. For further information on current health measures for businesses, please see the businesses and services restrictions section at alberta.ca/covid19.

Information on this page is updated as the situation continues to evolve and new information becomes available. For general City of Edmonton COVID-19 information, visit edmonton.ca/COVID-19

Edmonton’s Economic Recovery Program

This program builds on the City’s existing work to support businesses and has five tools that will allow us to use the catalyst funding most effectively to help our local business community relaunch and recover.

Permit & Licensing Improvement Project

Two-year initiative to improve City of Edmonton permit and licensing services.

Economic Recovery Grant Program

Supporting the immediate needs and recovery efforts for businesses and business associations. 

One-on-One Business Support

One-on-one support for you as you navigate the permits and licence requirements for your business.

Temporary Outdoor Patio and Retail Space Program

Resources and Step-by-step process to help you navigate the application process for your temporary patio or outdoor retail space.

Business Licence Fee Reduction

Learn more about the business licence fee reduction program.

Restrictions on Business

Restrictions for Edmonton Businesses - Government of Alberta

On June 10, Alberta entered Stage 2 of reopening. This includes COVID-19 restriction changes for restaurants, retail, hotels and community halls, churches and funeral homes, performance and recreation, personal and wellness services, and workplaces. This stage will remain in place for 2 weeks and will be extended if necessary. 

Retail

Under Stage 2 of reopening, all retail services and shopping malls can increase customer capacity to 33% of fire code occupancy. Curbside pickup, delivery and online services are encouraged.

Restaurants, Bars, lounges and cafes

Effective June 10, restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafes can open for both indoor and outdoor patio service, with restrictions.

For further information on current health measures for businesses, please see the businesses and services restrictions section at alberta.ca/covid19.

Vehicle for Hire - City of Edmonton
Dispatch and Vehicle for Hire Fee Reductions

On April 6, 2021, City Council approved a 100% reduction in 2021 dispatch and vehicle licence fees for limousines and a 50% reduction in these fees for all other vehicles for hire. The fee reduction will be automatically applied when licensees renew their licence or apply for a new licence.  For licensees who already received a credit for their 2021 fees, the fee reduction will be applied to their 2022 fees. The fee reductions are one way the City is helping support the industry through the pandemic recovery.

Vehicle for Hire Service Restrictions

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, there are Provincial restrictions (Order 18-2020) for all taxis, limousines, private transportation providers, shuttle service providers, and all ride-sharing services such as Uber and Tapp. These include: limits to the number of passengers in a vehicle, enhanced cleaning practices, and guidelines around what to do in the event of a potential exposure. For more information, please see the Province's guidance documents and/or visit alberta.ca/covid19.

Mobile Cooking Operations - City of Edmonton

The City is continuing to issue permits in alignment with provincial requirements to ensure public health and safety, including the following:

  • No seating or consumption areas
  • No self-serve cutlery, condiments or napkins 
  • Providing access to hand sanitation for patrons
  • Appropriate physical distancing measures for lineups and ordering
  • Maintaining 40m distance between food trucks to avoid congestion
  • Disinfecting measures in line with AHS recommendations
  • Compliance with Alberta Government Public Health Orders
Reporting Physical Distancing & Health Order Violation Concerns

The City will support the new restrictions announced by the province by continuing to activate our enforcement teams.

Through close coordination with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Edmonton Police Service, teams of Peace Officers will work 7 days a week to support Face Covering bylaw enforcement and Public Health Order enforcement. While enforcement has occurred throughout the pandemic, the City will now concentrate our efforts on public spaces, gatherings and businesses. 

For complaints on face coverings, vehicle-for-hire services, outdoor spaces, playgrounds and dog parks, use the City of Edmonton general complaint form. For complaints on self-isolation restrictions, mass gatherings, workplaces or businesses not complying with closures please visit the AHS Complaints form.

For physical distancing concerns, use the City of Edmonton physical distancing form. NOTE: This form is only for analyzing changing trends, not for enforcement. 

Temporary Mandatory Face Coverings
Provincial Masking Requirements

Effective December 8, 2020, the Province’s mandatory indoor public masking requirement (Order 41-2020) and (Order 38-2020) has been extended provincewide.

Masks are mandatory in all:

  • Indoor public places
  • Places of worship
  • Indoor workplaces and facilities outside the home, except:
    • When working alone in an office or a safely distanced cubicle or a barrier is in place
    • Rental accommodations used solely for the purposes of a private residence
    • Farm operations (exempt)

This workplace requirement:

  • Applies to all employees, customers, visitors, delivery personnel and contractors
  • Includes any location where employees are present in-person
  • Includes all workplace locations where masks won’t pose a safety risk
  • Does not change current student mask requirements in schools
Temporary Mandatory Face Coverings Bylaw

The Province’s mask requirements align with the City’s Temporary Mandatory Face Coverings Bylaw 19408, which came into effect on August 1, 2020 and has been extended until December 31, 2021. 

This bylaw makes wearing a mask or face covering mandatory in all indoor public spaces and public vehicles. This means that if you are someone who operates a public-facing business or public facility, anyone who enters your business and your staff when in those spaces (unless separated by a barrier or working alone), must wear a mask or face covering. Masks are also required on transit, in transit centres and LRT platforms, as well as when riding in a vehicle for hire.

The City has prepared information to assist you in implementing this new bylaw. See our mask information for the public or mask information for businesses.

City Council can vote to repeal the bylaw at any time should conditions warrant that action.

Edmonton’s Relaunch, Recovery and Reimagine Plan

Edmonton's Reimagine Plan

The City has released the Reimagine plan that looks at ways to continue building a healthy, prosperous Edmonton while working to balance the budget during these unprecedented times. The Reimagine recommendations are the basis of City Administration’s corporate work plan and will better position Edmonton to recover from the triple threat of health challenges of a pandemic, the economic contraction it has generated and the oil price plunge.  

The plan aims to ensure that the City moves forward into the future in a financially responsible manner while dealing with the effects of COVID-19. You can read the related news release for more information about the plan.

One-on-One Support for Edmonton Businesses

Do you have questions about the City of Edmonton’s permitting and licensing processes or support available to you? Email businessinfo@edmonton.ca and we'll do our very best to help. 

Economic Recovery Grant Program

The Economic Recovery Grant has been created to support the immediate needs and recovery efforts for Edmonton’s businesses impacted by COVID-19. Businesses and organizations can apply anytime. Applications are reviewed weekly.

Details about eligibility, application criteria and how to apply are available at edmonton.ca/businessgrants

Business Licence Fee Reduction

April 6, 2021

To help support local businesses through the pandemic recovery, the City is providing all businesses with a 50% reduction in business licence fees. The fee reduction will be automatically applied when businesses renew their existing licence or apply for a new business licence between now and March 31, 2022.

Business licence fees paid prior to April 1, 2021 will not be eligible for refunds. Businesses that already paid licence fees between January 1 and March 31, 2021 will receive the fee reduction when they renew their licence in 2022.

Temporary Outdoor Patios, Sidewalk Cafes and Retail Expansions - City of Edmonton
Outdoor Patios & Sidewalk Cafes

New mandatory restrictions are in effect to protect the health system and stop the spike of COVID-19. Effective June 10, 2021, both indoor and outdoor dining will be permitted, with a maximum of 6 people per table.

If you have any questions regarding the status of your temporary patio location or application, please email roaduse.permit@edmonton.ca.

Retail Expansions

Effective June 10, 2021, all retail services are allowed a customer capacity of up to 33% of fire code occupancy.

Previously approved outdoor retail expansions may continue to operate until April 30, 2022 provided they follow the Province’s customer capacity requirements. Curbside pickup, delivery and online services are encouraged.

Permit and Licensing Improvement Project

The City is committed to ongoing process improvement and red tape reduction to support businesses during the relaunch and recovery phases. The Permit and Licensing Improvement project is a longer term project aimed at improving services for homeowners and contractors doing renovations as well as businesses moving into a new space or opening a new business. For details, visit edmonton.ca/permitimprovements. 

Safety and Social Disorder

Needle Safety

The Capital City Cleanup program with the City of Edmonton is responsible for safe needle collection and disposal from public property. If you see a needle, call 311 or use the 311 app.
For more information about this program and needle debris, visit our Safe Needle Disposal webpage.

Encampment Response during COVID-19

The City schedules closures and clean-ups of encampments on public land. Visit our edmonton.ca/homelessness page for more information. To learn more or report an encampment, visit edmonton.ca/homelessness

Help for Vulnerable Edmontonians in Extreme Weather

Caring for our city’s most vulnerable becomes especially critical in extreme weather conditions. The City, Homeward Trust and community partners work together to determine when to enact the City’s extreme weather protocol. Find out more.

Social Disorder

Social disorder associated with homelessness - like litter, needle debris or disruptive behaviour - is a symptom of a lack of adequate housing and support. Housing is the solution. Find out more at edmonton.ca/homelessness

Service Changes for Businesses

Development, Licence & Construction Service Changes

Visit COVID-19 related service adjustments for information about development, permit, licencing, construction and inspection service changes. We’re working hard to maintain as many services as possible so you can still get the things you need. 

In-Person Service Changes

The following locations with in-person City services are closed to protect everyone’s health and safety. Most locations will still offer services via phone, email or mail:

The following service counters will be open for services by appointment only:

Visit edmonton.ca/servicechanges for details.

Transit Changes

Regular ETS service resumed on August 30, 2020. Customers are encouraged to travel during off-peak hours. They should wear a mask, keep a safe physical distance from other customers and stay home if they have any cold or flu symptoms. For details, visit Edmonton Transit Service.

Employment Standards and EI Benefits - Government of Alberta

The Government of Alberta provides guidance and temporary rules to help employers and employees. For details on employment standards and EI benefits, visit the Government of Alberta website.
 

Public Health Orders - Government of Alberta

The Government of Alberta has implemented new ministerial orders, orders in council and legislation to support Albertans, prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect our economy. For details, visit the Government of Alberta website. 

Financial Assistance

Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant

The Edmonton Economic Recovery Grant is available to help Edmonton businesses recover from COVID-19. Find out more or apply today.

City-owned Property Rent Forbearance

For tenants in a building/facility closed by the City or those located in city-owned buildings that remain open, the City will not issue agreement default notices in April 2020 and will not enforce the payment of rent for three months. More information will be provided directly to tenants.

Commercial Rent Subsidy and Emergency Wage Subsidy - Government of Canada

On November 20, 2020 the Prime Minister announced that the Federal Government passed Bill C9. This means that a new commercial rent subsidy for businesses is being put in place and applications will open Monday, November 23, 2020. Bill C9 also extends the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) through to June 2021. Visit the Government of Canada website for details.

Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant - Government of Alberta

To support Alberta’s small businesses as they adapt to the realities of the ongoing public health crisis, the Alberta government is expanding and increasing the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant. With a new lower threshold and increased grant amount, up to 15,000 more businesses may be eligible for funding.

On April 13, the government announced that Alberta businesses impacted by recent public health orders will be eligible to apply for a third payment through the program. The payment is calculated as 15% of the eligible organization's pre-curtailed monthly revenue to a maximum of $10,000. Applications for an additional payment will open soon.

Eligible organizations must demonstrate a revenue reduction of 30% as well as meet the program’s other eligibility criteria.

For more information, visit the Government of Alberta’s relaunch grant program webpage.

Community Supports for Business

List of PPE Suppliers

The City of Edmonton has developed this list of suppliers for local businesses that may need personal protective equipment (PPE).

List of PPE Suppliers

Community Supports for Business

We are working closely with our partners throughout the city to best serve Edmontonians while taking steps to protect people and places from risks associated with the COVID-19 virus. Check in with our partners for the most up-to-date and detailed information about their service and the actions they are taking.

City of Edmonton COVID-19 Updates

City of Edmonton YouTube Channel

For comprehensive COVID-19 updates from Mayor Don Iveson and City Manager Andre Corbould.

edmonton.ca/COVID-19

Government of Alberta Support for Businesses

The Government of Alberta provides COVID-19 related information and guidance on their website. 

Alberta Biz Connect provides workplace guidance and supports to help businesses and non-profits affected by COVID-19 begin to reopen and resume operations safely.

COVID-19 info for Albertans provides actions to protect Albertans and prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

Economic support and recovery provides short, medium and long-term sector specific actions to support Albertans and the economy during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

We also recommend visiting the Government of Alberta news page often for current announcements on business and sector related programs and services.

Government of Canada Support for Businesses

The Government of Canada provides COVID-19 related information and guidance on their website.

Financial and economic support for businesses provides information about access to financial supports and guidance for businesses 

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