New York Forward
Rochester Launched Phase 4 of State Reopening Plan July 3
Governor Andrew Cuomo has authorized Rochester and the Finger Lakes region to begin the phased-reopening plan called New York Forward. Phase 1 began May 15 and Phase 3 began June 12. Phase 4 is set to begin July 1. Learn more>>
Local Emergency Order
During the Pandemic, Mayor Lovely A. Warren issues periodic Local Emergency Orders in accordance of Section 24 of NY Executive Law.
Read the latest Local Emergency Order here>>
City Services during State of Emergency
- Police, Fire, 911, Refuse/Recycling and Water services continue
- Most facilities are closed to the public or offer limited limited in-person service. Learn more>>
- Public meetings and hearings held by teleconference or other method. Learn more>>
- Secure drop box at City Hall, 30 Church St., (Fitzhugh St. entrance) for permit applications, payments or assessment grievances (do not leave cash in drop boxes).
- Payments can be made by mail via City website at cityofrochester.gov/payments/. Online transaction fees are waived.
- Many major Special Events are cancelled until further notice. Learn more>>
- All City departments answer questions via phone and email.
- All online services remain available.
- 311 Call Center remains in operation.
Jumpstarting ROC
This site will keep you up-to-date on the many actions that the City of Rochester is taking to respond to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic – our immediate Response, how we will contribute to Recovery, and strategies to ensure our community’s long-term Resiliency. You’ll also find valuable Resources for businesses and links to information for residents.
Learn more at JumpStartingROC.com
Re-opening Rochester
What you need to know as Rochester moves through the re-opening phases.
Maintain Safe Social Distancing Practices for Yourself and Others
- Stay home as much as possible.
- Continue to wear a face mask in public, especially when you are in close proximity others.
- Stay 6 feet apart from those outside your household.
- Limit social gatherings to household members.
- Do not gather in groups. Non-essential gatherings such as birthday parties, weddings and holiday picnics remain prohibited.
- Avoid crowded places.
- Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and warm water.
- Cover sneezes and coughs with a bent elbow.
- Stay home if you feel ill or display symptoms of COVID-19.
Track Your Health, Help Our Community Recover at ROCCOVID.org
Help the Monroe County Department of Health find new hotspots and identify at-risk populations by participating in the online daily health tracker. Learn more>>
Federal, State, City Support
Read a compilation of federal, state and City resources as of May 22 and to support citizens during the pandemic: View the report here>>
Other Community Resources
Foodlink Drive-through Emergency Food Distribution Sites
Foodlink is partnering with Monroe County to distribute emergency food supply boxes in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Distribution sites across the county will provide drive through, no-touch distributions. Pre-registration is required Learn more>>
Helpful Telephone Numbers
- Food and Shelter Assistance: Dial 211
- Willow Domestic Violence Center:
- 24-Hour Hotline (585) 222-SAFE (7233)
- 24-Hour Text Line (585) 348-SAFE (7233)
- Monroe County Domestic Violence: 428-2215
- National Suicide and Veterans Crisis Line: (800) 273- 8255
- State Office of Mental Health: (844) 863-9314
- County Office of Mental Health: call 753-5530
- Local Life Line Mobile Crisis Team: call 275-5151Latest News
(Friday, July 17, 2020) – The Departments of Finance and Neighborhood and Business Development will expand their hours for in-person customer service operations to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting Monday, July 20. Learn more>>
(Wednesday, July 15, 2020) – Mayor Lovely Warren and Police Chief LaRon Singletary today announced new efforts to curb recent violence in Rochester. Over 20 people have been shot or stabbed over the last two weeks. Much of this violence has been preceded by house parties or large gatherings on City streets and public parks. Therefore, the Mayor and Chief announced that laws and regulations regarding public gatherings will be strictly enforced and that New York State Police will assign troopers to assist RPD in these efforts. In addition, the Mayor issued a new Emergency Order that no public gatherings of 5 or more people will be allowed from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. in a public place. Also, no indoor gatherings of 10 or more unrelated individuals will be allowed from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. unless the location is licensed under Alcohol Beverage Control Law. Learn more>>
(Friday, July 10, 2020) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today that four neighborhood library branches will join the Central Library in offering contactless curbside pickup of lending materials starting Monday, July 13 as other City operations continue to expand in-person customer service. The following City Departments are expanding or continuing to offer in-person customer service beginning Monday. Learn more>>
(Tuesday, June 23, 2020) – The City of Rochester Public Market today announced that the 2020 season of Community Garage Sales and Super Fleas will launch on Sunday, July 12. Despite a delayed start to this popular event series due to the COVID-19 pandemic, customers can once again look forward to discovering great bargains and new treasures to enjoy. Learn more>>
(Friday, June 19, 2020) -- Mayor Lovely A. Warren today announced the ROC’N Drive-In, a series of pop-up drive-in movies that will take place in the VIP Parking Lot at Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Silver Way, beginning Thursday, June 25. Learn more>>
(Sunday, June 14, 2020) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today that City Hall and the offices that host the Traffic Violations Agency and Bureau of Parking will begin offering in-person customer service on a limited basis beginning Monday, June 15. Learn more>>
(Wednesday, June 3, 2020) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today the launch of JumpStartingROC.com, a new City website dedicated to assisting businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more>>
(Thursday, May 28, 2020) -- The Rochester City Council issued a proclamation advocating for greater protections for essential healthcare workers, first responders, and front line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more>>
(Friday, May 22, 2020) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren and Police Chief La’Ron Singletary are imploring Rochester residents to continue practicing safe social distancing measures as the forecasted summer-like weather draws people outside over Memorial Day weekend. Learn more>>
(Friday., May 22, 2020) – Effective Tuesday, May 26, residents who utilize the Flint Street R-Center meal distribution site will need to use the entrance of Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School No.19, located at 465 Seward St., to obtain meals. The entrance change is necessary due to construction that is occurring in the area. Learn more>>
(Friday, May 22, 2020) – In response to the closure of City Hall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rochester City Clerk’s Office today announced that couples seeking to obtain marriage licenses will now be able to do so through an online application process. Learn more>>
(Thursday, May 14, 2020) – Effective Monday, May 18, Helen Barrett Montgomery School No. 50, located at 301 Seneca Avenue, will be added to the list of locations currently operating as part of the grab-and-go meal distribution system that is a partnership between the City of Rochester, the Rochester City School District and Foodlink. Learn more>>
(Thursday, May 14, 2020) – Beginning Monday, May 18, the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County will begin offering more MiFi mobile hotspot units and contactless curbside pickup of library materials. These services are available for any library card holder who needs internet access at home or would like to borrow physical library materials, such as books and DVDs. Learn more>>
(Friday, May 8, 2020) – Mayor Lovely Warren announced today that protective masks will be sent to every household mailing address in the City of Rochester. Nearly 96,000 homes will receive five masks each for a total distribution of nearly 480,000 masks. An additional 20,000 masks will be reserved to support public health efforts, as well as reopening activities and will be provided to businesses, churches and apartments as needed. The masks were provided to the City from the Monroe County stockpile. Learn more>>
(Thursday, May 7, 2020) – Effective Monday, May 18, the City of Rochester’s Department of Environmental Services will resume bulk refuse collection as part of the initial reopening of our community. Bulk Refuse collection was initially paused to preserve the City’s ability to continue normal refuse and recycling pickup and protect employee and public health during the COVID-19 crisis. Fortunately, as time has progressed, the City has not seen the level of illness initially feared among its DES employees and is able to reinstate this important service. Normal refuse and recycling collection will continue on its normal schedule. Learn more>>
(Tuesday, May 5, 2020) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today personnel reductions to protect essential services, including the police and fire departments. Over $2.1 million in savings will be generated over the current and next fiscal years. 403 employees in total are affected. However, 17 positions are eliminated with the remaining 386 employees subject to furlough or work sharing for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more>>
(Friday, May 1, 2020) – The City of Rochester is seeking community input regarding the use of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more>>