Property maintenance businesses permitted to operate as of May 4

Spring has arrived. This means that the Town of Whitby and residents are beginning spring cleaning, as well as property repair and maintenance work.

Starting in May, residents will see staff out in the community doing a variety of necessary work to ensure public safety. This work includes road surface repairs, street sweeping, weed control and grass cutting. Staff will also be cutting and pruning trees in certain areas to ensure that they are not blocking roadway sightlines or creating a safety hazard. As the need for physical distancing during COVID-19 continues, staff will be required to take separate vehicles to worksites and avoid personal contact with others.

Like the Town, residents are also beginning their own seasonal clean-up. Currently, landscaping, property maintenance and lawn care businesses are permitted to provide the following services: the removal of hazardous trees; pool and boundary fence repairs; roofing repair; debris and garbage removal; and window replacement for broken or leaking windows.

As of Monday, May 4, these businesses will also be permitted to undertake the following services necessary for the safety, security and/or sanitation of a property:

• lawn/grass cutting, dethatching, rolling and aeration;
• clearing yard and garden debris; and,
• weed clearing and prevention.

These services help to ensure properties remain safe and that property standards are met as the weather gets warmer. It’s important to note that provincial regulations currently restrict landscaping, property maintenance and lawn care businesses from offering a number of other services, including new landscaping projects being done only for aesthetic reasons, or the construction of new decks or patios.

Anyone undertaking property maintenance work should continue to follow the advice of health officials. This includes:

• Practicing physical distancing – staying six feet (two metres) away from others living outside of your home
• Staying home if sick
• Washing hands with soap and water frequently (for at least 20 seconds)
• Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces frequently

Businesses and their staff should also follow these additional recommended health precautions:

• Encouraging workers to wear non-medical face masks
• Having no more than five workers at a worksite
• Requiring any workers who have travelled outside of Canada, or have symptoms of COVID-19, to self-isolate

For additional details or information on how the Town is responding to COVID-19, visit whitby.ca/coronavirus.