Events and Gatherings Guidance and Restrictions

As of January 12, 2021 Gatherings during the Declaration of Emergency and Provincewide Shutdown with Enhanced Measures are as follows:
- Limit close contact to only members of your household (the people you live with). If you live alone, you may consider having close contact with one other household only.
- Up to 5 people may gather outdoors, as long as you can keep 2 metres physical distance from each other. You should also wear a mask or face covering.
- You may attend a funeral, religious service or wedding of up to 10 people.
If you do not follow these rules for gatherings:
- organizers may be fined $10,000
- each attendee may receive a $750 ticket
-enforcement personnel may break up the gathering or temporarily close the premises

Please see Ontario’s Provincewide Shutdown page for information limitations on events and gatherings during the shutdown which takes effect on December 26, 2020.

Household gatherings and social circles

  • The Ontario government has paused all recommendations for social circles
  • All Ontarians are advised to limit close contact to only with people living in their own household and maintain two metres physical distancing and wear face coverings around everyone else.
  • Individuals who live alone may consider having exclusive close contact with another household.
  • Virtual gatherings or events are the safest way to visit or celebrate occasions with people outside your household.

Changes to gathering limits

Review the provincial regulations for requirements on gathering limits in each Zone:

O. Reg. 82/20 (Lockdown)
O. Reg. 263/20 (Red – Control)
O. Reg. 364/20 (Green – Prevent, Yellow – Protect, and Orange – Restrict)

Please also refer to the Ontario COVID-19 response framework: keeping Ontario safe and open, for a summary of the regulatory requirements under each zone of public health measures.

Gathering Limits

  Prevent – Green Protect – Yellow Restrict - Orange Control - Red

Provincewide Shutdown/Lockdown
- Grey
Wedding, funeral or religious service rite or ceremony

30% capacity of the room indoors or

 

100 people outdoors

30% capacity of the room indoors or

 

100 people outdoors

30% capacity of the room indoors or

 

100 people outdoors

30% capacity of the room indoors or

 

100 people outdoors

10 people indoors

 

10 people outdoors
Social gatherings before or after a service, rite or ceremony (e.g. wedding or funeral reception)

10 people indoors or

 

25 people outdoors
for private unstaffed events

10 people indoors or

 

25 people outdoors
for private unstaffed events

10 people indoors or

 

25 people outdoors
for private unstaffed events

5 people indoors or

 

25 people outdoors
for private unstaffed events

No indoor organized events

 

5 people outdoors
Staffed events monitored and operated by an event business/facility

50 people indoors or

 

100 people outdoors

50 people indoors or

 

100 people outdoors

50 people indoors or

 

100 people outdoors

10 people indoors or

 

25 people outdoors

 Meetings and event facilities are closed as indoor social events and gatherings are not permitted
  • Gathering limits are subject to attendees’ ability to maintain 2 metres physical distance from those outside their household
  • Gathering limits apply even if a social gathering is held at a private dwelling or residence
  • Virtual and drive-in services for the purposes of a wedding ceremony, funeral, religious service, rite or ceremony are currently permitted
  • Non-religious drive-in or drive-through events (for entertainment or recreational purposes) are not permitted during the Provincewide Shutdown/Lockdown

Resources and guidance