On September 17, 2020 the Government announced amendments to order O. Reg 364/20: Rules for Areas in Stage 3 under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 which lower limits for Private Social Gatherings in Ottawa, Peel and Toronto Regions, effective Sep 18, 2020 at 12:01am. These amendments restrict private outdoor gatherings in these regions to 25 and private indoor gatherings to 10 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The new limits do not apply to events or gatherings held in staffed businesses and facilities, such as bars, restaurants, cinemas, convention centres or banquet halls, gyms, and recreational sporting or performing art events.
In addition, proposed amendments to the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act would, if passed, create new offenses and fines for people who organize gatherings in private residences that violate social gathering restrictions.
The AGCO will continue to accept applications for Special Occasion Permits and Auction Authorizations for events that meet the above social gathering limits and criteria, and are located in a region that is in Stage 3.
Applications related to public events and social gatherings that exceed these limits will not be processed until after the emergency order has been lifted or modified.
Please consider these guidelines and all other government-issued protocols as part of your event planning process, and when applying for a Special Occasion Permit of any size.
For more information on prohibited events and restrictions that will remain in place during Stage 3, visit Ontario.ca/reopen.