Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Effective Friday, May 22, Orange County Animal Services is reopening via an appointment-based system. In order to adopt a pet, reclaim a pet or surrender a pet to the shelter, an appointment will be required. To make an appointment, please visit the appointments webpage. For additional information, visit www.ocnetpets.com.

The shelter is continuing to offer virtual adoptions for a select number of pets. To view the pets available for virtual adoption, please visit the shelter’s Facebook page.

Visit our Development Services web page for detailed information on service changes.

As of Monday May 18, 2020, Orange County Library System has opened five branches to provide essential services to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Those branches are:

• Southeast
• Winter Garden
• South Trail
• North Orange
• South Creek

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the Orange County Library systems will reopen the following branches. These branches will operate Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Alafaya
• Chickasaw
• Eatonville 
• Fairview Shores
• Hiawassee
• Southwest
• Washington Park
• West Oaks
• Windermere

On Monday, June 1, 2020, the Orlando Public Library will reopen Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Service will be grab and go. Public computer use is limited to one hour per customer. All customers will be required to wear a mask while in the library. For more information, visit OCLS.info.

Other Libraries

• Winter Park Public Library
• Maitland Public Library

Online camping reservations for Kelly, Magnolia, Moss and Trimble Parks will open at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 5 – limited to family campsites for 8 or fewer (no group camping); reservations will not be accepted over the phone or by email. Clarcona Horse Park’s camp sites will be available in-person only, on a first-come, first-served basis, after 8 a.m. on June 5 – limited to family campsites for 8 or fewer (no group camping); reservations available in-person only, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Orange County’s boat ramps and kayak and canoe launches are open.

All youth, adult and senior programs and gatherings are suspended; all fitness centers, gyms, game rooms, playgrounds, basketball courts, hockey rink, volleyball courts, splash pads, Kelly Park swimming area and the Fort Gatlin Pool are closed until further notice; and league play is cancelled at Lake Cane and Fort Gatlin tennis centers.

If you plan to visit a park or trail, please observe the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) recommendations:

• Follow CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to heading to trails — wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, do not use trails if you have symptoms, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, etc.
• Observe at all times CDC’s minimum recommended social distancing of six feet from other people. Practice it and know what it looks like. Keep it as you walk, bike or hike.
• Warn other trail users of your presence and as you pass to allow proper distance and step off trails to allow others to pass, keeping minimum recommended distances at all times. Signal your presence with your voice, bell or horn.
• Note that trail and park users may find public restrooms closed — be prepared before you leave and time outings so that you are not dependent on public restrooms.
• Bring water or drinks — public drinking fountains may be disabled and should not be used, even if operable.
• Bring a suitable trash bag. Leave no trash — take everything out to protect park workers.

Find more Resources for Parks and Recreational Facilities from the CDC and learn about the Do's and Don'ts of visiting a park or recreational facility.

LYNX

LYNX will resume operating a normal schedule and routing starting on May 11. The full schedules are available in the LYNX Schedule Book.

Sunrail

SunRail will resume regular service on Monday, May 11, 2020 while still implementing measures to keep riders and workers safe. All regular SunRail Connection service on LYNX will resume on May 11 as well. View more information on sunrail.com.

Beginning June 11, Orange County Public Schools will implement a 4-day, 10-hour per day, work week for the summer months. All district offices and schools will be open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and closed on Fridays beginning June 12 through July 24.

All visitors must have an appointment. Please contact the department or school to schedule. Information regarding health advisories, school reopening, summer distance learning, and the summer meal distribution program is available at www.ocps.net.

Orange County Utilities

As a precaution for Orange County residents and staff, effective Thursday, March 19, 2020, the Orange County Utilities Administration Building Customer Lobby is closed due to the COVID-19. For payment information, visit www.ocfl.net/WaysToPay.

Water service disconnections for nonpayment, as well as late payment fees for residential water and wastewater customers, have been suspended.

Community Action Division

Community Action Centers have cancelled all senior programming until further notice.

Property Appraiser

Orange County Property Appraiser’s downtown office lobby is closed to visitors, and staff is working remotely. Field Appraisers are permitted to visit residential properties but are not engaging with taxpayers and are equipped with virus mitigation and sanitizing supplies. The customer service phone line (407-836-5044) and website (www.ocpafl.org) with a chat feature are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tax Collector’s Office

The Tax Collector’s Office is open to the public by appointment only. Visit octaxcol.com to schedule an appointment. Please review the screening questions at octaxcol.com/covid19.

Effective June 24, 2020, in accordance with Orange County’s Executive Order, all customers are required to wear a face mask while at the Tax Collector’s Office. If a customer does not bring a face mask, one will be provided to them.

Online services: Many services, including driver license renewals, vehicle registration renewals, property and business tax payments, title transactions, and disabled parking permit applications may be completed online, by email or by mail. Visit octaxcol.com/covid19 to learn more.

Clerk of Courts and Courthouse

The Orange County Clerk’s Office has expanded limited access to more Clerk services. In order to limit capacity in lobbies, appointments can now be scheduled for the following services and locations starting on Monday, June 1, 2020:

• Marriage License & Ceremonies – Downtown Courthouse, Winter Park, Apopka, Ocoee
• Passport Applications – Downtown Courthouse, Winter Park, Apopka, Ocoee
• Self Help Center Virtual Attorney Appointments – Downtown Courthouse

For more information or to make payments, view and order court records, file cases, order packets and forms, and make appointments at our website at www.myorangeclerk.com.

Ninth Circuit Court of Florida has suspended jury trials & summons. For information on closures and procedural changes affecting courts in Orange and Osceola counties, visit the Ninth Circuit Court COVID-19 website.