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To reduce the spread of coronavirus, local governments are encouraging the public to do business with them online or over the phone if possible.

You can visit Hall County’s online payment portal to see if a payment could be made online. Vehicle registration and business license renewals can be done online, and so can property tax payments or traffic citation fines.

You can also check the county’s online directory and call or email to see if your business can be done online or over the phone. 

Gainesville also has an online payment portal, where people can pay court fees, property taxes, pay a water bill or get a permit. Check Gainesville’s department directory to find the right contact and see if your questions can be answered over the phone or email. Water customers are encouraged to call or email first, but if they go to Gainesville Water Resources’ offices at 757 Queen City Parkway, they are asked to go to the drive-thru window before going inside.

Flowery Branch has closed all of its properties. The city asks residents to visit flowerybranchga.org for current information and to access city services, such as utility payments.

In Oakwood, residents are asked to call or email city officials as needed. Contact information can be found at cityofoakwood.net.

Otherwise, the city has closed its municipal court for March and the April 2 session, and City Park on Railroad Avenue is closed until further notice. The city’s community building is open only to those who have the building contracted to rent. No new reservations will be made until further notice.

Braselton’s buildings will remain open at regular hours, but the town asks that residents “limit visits to necessity and avoid visits if you feel unwell or may have been exposed to anyone who is unwell.”

The town encourages residents to contact staff by phone and email. Contact information is on the website, www.Braselton.net.

All Buford facilities, including its parks and city hall, are closed. City officials are asking residents to not visit city facilities and, as needed, to contact staff by phone and email. Contact information can be found at cityofbuford.com.

Reporter Jeff Gill contributed.