City of Durham COVID-19 Updates & Resources

As Durham, the state of North Carolina, and our entire country face the unknowns of COVID-19, the City’s top priority is to maintain essential services for our community while protecting the health and safety of our residents and employees.

Current Status

Major the Bull statue wearing protective face covering
  1. Stay-at-Home Order
    Understanding the Stay-at-Home Order: What am I allowed to do? What is open?
  1. City Services & Facility Updates
    Check the current status of frequently used City services and facilities.
  1. Community Resources
    Find resources for residents and businesses recovering from COVID-19.

City Restoration Updates as of May 18, 2020

As the City begins the process of gradually and carefully reopening, when interacting with City staff or visiting City facilities, the public must follow the social distancing and sanitation guidelines as defined in the Durham Stay-at-Home Order. This includes wearing a face covering and maintaining a six-foot distance between yourself and others.

The following updates are subject to change as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.

City Services

Trash/Recycling Curbside Pickup Operating as normal | View Details 
Bulky Item Curbside PickupPlace request through Durham One Call | View Details 
Yard Waste Curbside PickupService currently suspended | View Details
Water Billing & Water ServicesAccount cutoffs currently suspended | View Details
Planning & Inspection Services (DSC)
Service changes in place | View Details
Durham One Call
Assistance available via phone or online request Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | View Details
GoDurham Transportation Services
Some route/schedule changes in place | View Details
Parking Services
  • Gates to all parking facilities open
  • Many on-street metered parking spaces converted to curbside delivery zones
  • View Details 
Emergency Services - Fire, Police, 911

City Facilities

City Hall and Other City Facilities
Closed to public.
Development Services Center (DSC)
The DSC lobby is closed to walk-in customers through at least May 30 | View Details 
Durham Parks & Recreation Facilities (DPR)
  • Parks trails, and green spaces open (with exception of C.M. Herndon)
  • Tennis courts, pickle ball courts, disc golf courses open starting May 18
  • City lakes (Lake Michie and Little River) open starting May 22 with limited operations and capacities - review details before visiting
  • Indoor and outdoor pools closed until further notice
  • All other DPR facilities closed to public
  • View Details 
ParkDurham Customer Service Center
Closed to public | View Details
Waste Disposal and Recycling Center and Household Hazardous Waste Center Open to the public as of May 18 with new protocols in place | View Details

City Meetings & Events

Currently, most City events are being held virtually, or being cancelled or postponed until further notice. Please check the City’s calendar or contact the event organizer to confirm changes.

City Council Meetings & Work SessionsMeetings held virtually through June | View Calendar
Boards, Committees, and CommissionsAll meetings are being held virtually or suspended through August 31, 2020 | View Calendar 
Durham Parks & Recreation Events (DPR)All programs, activities, and events are canceled or postponed until further notice | View Details

Mayor Steve Schewel’s Day 57 Report

On Thursday, May 7, Mayor Schewel issued an update to the community 57 days after doctors identified the first COVID-19 infection in Durham, and nearly six weeks since he issued his Stay-At-Home Order. Watch the mayor’s latest message that shares how we create a safe path to get people back to work.

Council Member Javiera Caballero delivers the Day 57 Report in Spanish

Doing Business with the City Remotely

While the City continues to provide essential services to Durham residents, we ask that residents observe social distancing guidelines and avoid in-person contact as much as possible. Below are some of the ways you can still engage and do business with the City:

COVID-19 Official Resources

To stay abreast of the COVID-19 situation in Durham and how to help reduce the potential spread of this virus, residents are encouraged to visit official public health resources including the Durham County Department of Public Health, state, and federal agencies.

  1. Durham County Public Health logo

    Durham County Department of Public Health Website
  1. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services logo

    North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Website
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logo

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website