City of Durham COVID-19 Updates & Resources

City Hall Lobby Limited Reopening

If possible, customers are strongly encouraged to continue to pay their water bills using the following methods:

• By contacting Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200
• By U.S. Mail  to P.O. Box 30041, Durham, N.C. 27702-3041
• By using one-of-two secure drop boxes located at City Hall (one drop box is located along the Mangum St. side of City Hall and a new drop box has been placed at the main entrance of City Hall on City Hall Plaza)
• By visiting more than 40 Western Union locations across Durham

Safety Protocols for Doing Business at City Hall

Enhanced Cleaning Protocols

With the limited reopening of the City Hall lobby, additional steps are being taken to protect the public and employees from the spread of COVID-19. 

• Staff are using enhanced cleaning protocols with additional attention to all shared spaces and publicly-accessible areas of City Hall. Routine cleaning and sanitizing will occur on an ongoing basis throughout the day using CDC-approved, COVID-19 cleaning products with extra focus on high-touch areas such as doorknobs, water fountains, handrails, and dispensers and faucets in all restrooms. 
• Plexiglas shields at the customer service areas in the City Hall lobby will provide an extra safety barrier between employees and the public during customer service interactions. 
• Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are also available for employee and public use as needed.

Required Safety Measures

Alongside the enhanced cleaning and safety measures mentioned above, the public as well as all City employees are required to wear a face covering upon entering the building and to remain six feet apart.

• If a member of the public does not have a face covering, a disposable one will be provided and must be worn in order to enter City Hall lobby.

How do I report a violation of the Stay at Home Order?

• To report violations in the City or County of Durham:
  Call the Durham Emergency Communications Center non-emergency line at 919-560-4600. 

Please DO NOT call the non-emergency phone number for general inquiries or questions about the Order. If your question is not answered on this FAQ webpage, contact Durham One Call at 919-560-1200 for assistance Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• To report violations at Duke University:
  If you have any questions or concerns or observe students whose behavior does not adhere to these policies, please call 800-826-8109, option 3, the Duke “Speak Up” reporting line, or email conduct@duke.edu, which goes to the Office of Student Conduct in the Division of Student Affairs. Submissions by phone and email will be sent to the appropriate department for follow up.

How is the Order being enforced within the City limits? 

It is the City’s priority to enforce the Order through education, dialogue, and seeking voluntary cooperation from all residents and businesses. If voluntary cooperation is not achieved, the following steps will be taken: 

• Step 1 – Advisory Education: The City will respond to violations with contact from the Durham Police Department (DPD) and City Attorney’s Office to provide education and an opportunity for voluntary compliance. This includes delivery of an advisory letter by DPD to notify the individual or business of their responsibility to follow the Order, and a call or letter from the Attorney’s Office.
  
  
• Step 2 – Criminal Citation and Cease and Desist Letter: For continued violations, DPD will issue a citation and the Attorney’s Office will issue a cease and desist letter. After the citation and letter are issued, DPD will visit again to check on compliance with the Order.

December 11 - Fourteenth Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Safer-at-Home Order

Aligns with North Carolina Executive Order 181 to implement modified stay at home order.

• City Adoption of Order (PDF) - English

November 25 - Thirteenth Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Safer-at-Home Order

Aligns with North Carolina Executive Order 180 to tighten mask requirements.

• County Order (PDF) -  English | Spanish 
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) - English | Spanish

November 13 - Twelfth Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Safer-at-Home Order

Aligns with the North Carolina Phase 3 Extension (Executive Order 176).

• City Adoption of Order (PDF) - English | Spanish

October 2 – Eleventh Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Safer-at-Home Order

Aligns with the North Carolina Phase 3 (Executive Order 169).

• County Order (PDF) - English | Spanish
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) – English | Spanish

September 4 – Tenth Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Safer-at-Home Order

Aligns with the North Carolina Phase 2.5 (Executive Order 163).

• County Order (PDF) – English
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) – English | Spanish 

July 9 – Ninth Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Safer-at-Home Order

Aligns with the North Carolina Phase Two Extension (Executive Order 147) with specific exceptions.

• County Order (PDF) – English | Spanish
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) – English | Spanish

June 12 – Eighth Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Safer-at-Home Order

Updates focus on outdoor exercise classes along with changes for real estate.

• County Order (PDF) – English
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) – English | Spanish

May 29 – Seventh Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Transition to Safer-at-Home Order

The updated order closely aligns with the state order (Executive Order 141) and allows more businesses to re-open.

• County Order (PDF) – English
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) – English | Spanish

May 22 – Sixth Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Stay-at-Home Order

Modified to reflect some of the state’s latest changes (Executive Order 141), while keeping several additional requirements in place for a little longer.

• County Order (PDF) – English | Spanish
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) – English | Spanish

May 15 – Fifth Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Stay-at-Home Order

Mostly adopts the Governor’s Executive Order 138 with some additional requirements for Durham residents/visitors.

• County Order (PDF) – English | Spanish
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) – English | Spanish

April 24 – Fourth Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Stay-at-Home Order

Updates to combined Stay-At-Home Order including an extension to May 15.

• County Order (PDF) – English
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) – English | Spanish

April 17 – Third Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Stay-at-Home Order

Update provides additional guidelines around face coverings, farmers markets, and activities for realtors.

• County Order (PDF) – English | Spanish
• City Adoption of Order (PDF) – English

April 3 – Second Amendment to Emergency Declaration/Combined Stay-at-Home Order

Combines the City and County Stay-At-Home Orders into a single order to reduce confusion and offer clearer guidance to businesses and residents.

• County Order (PDF) – English
• City Adoption of Order  (PDF) – English | Spanish

March 25 – Amendment to City’s Emergency Declaration/Creation of Stay-at-Home Order

• City Amendment & Stay-at-Home Order (PDF) – English | Spanish 

March 20 – Amendment to City’s Emergency Declaration

Expands closures to gyms, fitness centers, health clubs, and theaters.

• City Amendment (PDF) – English | Spanish

March 13 – City of Durham Emergency Declaration

Declares that a state of emergency exists in the City of Durham and prohibits a group of 100 or more persons to be located in a City facility that is owned/co-owned with the County.

• City Declaration (PDF) – English | Spanish