Here Are The Rules For Cottage Season Now That Ontario’s Stay-At-Home Order Is Over

Cottage season is looking more promising now that Ontario's stay-at-home order is officially over, but there are still rules in place that may affect your plans.

The province-wide emergency brake remains in effect, meaning that reopening won't officially begin until step one in mid-June. However, Ontarians are now allowed to leave their homes for non-essential reasons, which include trips to your cottage and gathering outside in groups of five.

Under the stay-at-home order, cottage trips were reserved for essential reasons only, like emergency maintenance. Spending time outside was only considered essential if it involved exercise, like walking or running.

However, if you're hoping to rent a cottage on Airbnb, you'll have to wait a little while longer to do so. Short-term rentals like cabins and cottages are not permitted yet, except for those in need of housing. Last weekend, six people from Toronto were charged for staying at a cottage rental in Oro-Medonte.

Ontarians can book overnight stays at campgrounds, as well as short-term rentals like cabins and cottages in step one of reopening. However, hotels, motels, lodges, and resorts are allowed.

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks announced on Tuesday that overnight accommodations at Ontario's provincial parks, including campground and backcountry campsites and roofed accommodations like cabins, yurts, and cottages, will remain closed until June 7. Narcity has reached out for additional details about what this means for Ontarians.

Step two, which will begin roughly 21 days after step one and when 70% of adults have received one vaccine dose, will allow overnight camps and outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people. In step three, when up to 80% of people have their first dose, larger indoor and outdoor gatherings will be permitted.