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Compliance with Stay-at-Home Orders in the Los Angeles AreaNote: These FAQs provide general guidance on how small businesses in the Los Angeles area can comply with COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Each business owner must carefully evaluate the applicable orders to determine the compliance steps required for their individual business. This document does not constitute legal advice.Jump to a topic:General RemindersWhich orders apply to me?Statewide OrderLA County OrderLA City OrderCan my business stay open?ResourcesOther Counties and CitiesUpdatesGeneral RemindersThe current COVID-19 pandemic is an evolving situation. Governmental and private actors continue to assess the impact of the pandemic on small businesses and others, and new programs (or changes to existing ones) continue to develop. The current stay-at-home orders in effect in the Los Angeles area will likely be modified as restrictions are relaxed and businesses are gradually allowed to re-open over the coming weeks and months. Check reliable sources (see list at the end for some suggestions) for updates. A general roadmap of the reopening process can be found here.It is important that your business comply with all applicable stay-at-home orders, including those issued at the state, county and city levels. Carefully evaluate the requirements of each applicable order to ensure that your business operations are in full compliance.Q: Which stay-at-home orders apply to my business?Businesses in the greater Los Angeles area must comply with the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders issued by the State of California, the County of Los Angeles and the government of the City or Cities in which they are located. The statewide and countywide orders do not preempt stricter rules imposed at the city level. You should therefore review the requirements of each applicable order and ensure that you operate your business in compliance with each of them.Q: What’s in the California statewide stay-at-home order?On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Execute Order N-33-20 directing all California residents to stay home except as needed to maintain critical infrastructure sectors. The full text of the statewide order can be found here.Non-Essential Businesses: California businesses classified as non-essential must close all in-person operations until the order is lifted (no end date has yet been specified). Examples of non-essential businesses include dine-in restaurants, entertainment venues, gyms and hair salons. Certain non-essential retail businesses may now conduct curbside operations pursuant to the update described below.Essential Businesses: Businesses classified as “Essential Critical Infrastructure” are exempt from the order and may remain open. Examples of exempt businesses include gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, banks, and essential government functions.Curbside Operations: The statewide order was updated on May 8, 2020 to allow non-essential retail businesses to re-open for delivery or curbside pickup only. Manufacturing and logistic sectors that support retail operations may also re-open. Retail includes only the sale of goods, and the State lists bookstores, jewelry stores, toy stores, clothing stores, home and furnishing stores, and sporting goods stores as examples of retail businesses that may re-open. Retail does not include personal services such as beauty salons. Q: What’s in the Los Angeles County stay-at-home order?Los Angeles County issued a revised stay-at-home order on April 10, 2020. The revised order aligns with the statewide order in how it classifies essential and non-essential businesses. The order also imposes additional infection control and social distancing requirements on exempt businesses. The full text of the revised county order can be found here.Non-Essential Businesses: Like the statewide order, the Los Angeles County order requires the immediate closure of in-person operations for all non-essential businesses, including non-essential retail stores, shopping centers (except for essential businesses within them), playgrounds, flea markets, gyms, bars, and entertainment venues. Certain non-essential retail businesses may now conduct curbside operations pursuant to the update described below.Essential Businesses: Under the revised order, all essential businesses must implement a Social Distancing Protocol by April 15, 2020. The Social distancing Protocol must be in the form attached to the order and must address how the business will:Enforce social distancing by requiring at least 6 feet of separation between members of the public;Provide access to hand washing facilities or hand sanitizer;Post a conspicuous sign instructing symptomatic persons to not enter the premises;Provide cloth face coverings for employees working in close contact with other employees or the public, and require that members of the public entering the facility wear a face covering; andAdhere to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s communicable disease control recommendations, including cleaning and disinfecting guidance, which can be found here. Curbside Operations: On May 8, 2020, Los Angeles County announced that certain non-essential retail businesses may re-open for curbside pick-up with adherence to social distancing and infection control procedures. Unlike the statewide order, the County lists bookstores, clothing and shoe stores, florists, music stores, sporting goods stores, toy stores, and car dealership showrooms as the only types of non-essential businesses that may reopen for curbside operations. Retail businesses not included in this list may not yet re-open for curbside pick-up. County guidelines for curbside operations can be found here. Q: What’s in the City of Los Angeles stay-at-home order?On March 19, 2020, Mayor Garcetti issued a stay-at-home emergency order calling on residents of the City of Los Angeles to stay in their residences except as necessary for essential tasks. Failure to comply with the order constitutes a misdemeanor that can lead to fines and imprisonment. The City may also cut off utility services for businesses that are not complying with the order. The full text of the city order can be found here.Non-Essential Businesses: The City of Los Angeles order aligns with the statewide and countywide orders and requires non-essential businesses to cease all in-person operations. Certain non-essential retail businesses may now conduct curbside operations pursuant to the update described below.Essential Businesses: Businesses deemed essential and exempt from the City of Los Angeles order include healthcare operations, food providers including grocery stores and restaurants providing meals to go, food cultivation operations, media services, gas stations, banks, hardware stores, essential household services such as plumbing and landscaping, transportation services, professional services, utilities, childcare services and hotels.Cloth Mask Requirement: On April 7, 2020, Mayor Garcetti issued a Worker Protection Order requiring employees of certain essential businesses to wear non-medical grade (i.e., cloth) face masks while working. Covered businesses include grocery stores, restaurants, social services organizations, hardware stores, laundromats, hotels, and ride-sharing services, among others. Each employer must provide its employees with face coverings at the employer’s expense, and employees must be permitted to wash their hands every 30 minutes. Businesses may refuse service to any customer not wearing a face covering. The full text of the Worker Protection Order can be found here.Curbside Operations: Starting May 8, 2020, in alignment with the county update, certain non-essential retail businesses in the City of Los Angeles may re-open for curbside operations. Businesses that may re-open include only bookstores, clothing and shoe stores, florists, music stores, sporting goods stores, toy stores, and car dealership showrooms. Face coverings are required for curbside pick-up for both customers and employees. Curbside pick-up guidelines issued by the City can be found here.Q: How do I determine whether my business is allowed to stay open?To legally continue operations, your business must either (1) be “essential” under each applicable stay-at-home order (i.e., each of the statewide order, the county order, and any applicable city order), or (2) be a non-essential retail businesses that qualifies for curbside operations under each applicable stay-at-home order. The County and City orders generally align with the statewide order in how they classify “essential” and “non-essential” businesses, but you should carefully review the below resources and contact the relevant government agencies if you are uncertain about how to classify your business.State Resources: A full list of businesses deemed “essential” under the statewide order can be found here.Los Angeles County Resources: Los Angeles County operates an online Business & Worker Disaster Help Center, which is available to assist businesses in determining whether they qualify as “essential” under the countywide order. The Help Center can be accessed here. An FAQ sheet with additional guidance from the county can be found here.Los Angeles City Resources: An FAQ sheet with a full list of essential businesses under the city order can be found here.Q: What resources are available if I have to close my businessFor general guidance on resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, please refer, among other resources, to Bet Tzedek’s FAQ sheets regarding EMERGENCY FINANCING, ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS MODELS, TAX, and INSURANCE/WORKERS. The following specific resources are also available:SBDC Advisors: Advisors from the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Council are available to assist small business owners at no cost with questions about disaster preparedness and recovery. Call (562) 938-5020 for more information, or view the LA SBDC COVID-19 Response Guide here.Microloan Program: The City of Los Angeles will support small businesses impacted by the stay-at-home orders through its Small Business Emergency Microloan program. This program offers no-fee microloans of up to $20,000 to cover working capital. Information about the program can be found here. Additional financing resources are described in our EMERGENCY FINANCING FAQ.Resilience Toolkit: A COVID-19 Small Business Resilience Toolkit prepared by the City of Los Angeles can be found here.Q: What if my business is in a different county or city?Owners of businesses located outside of Los Angeles County should contact their county health department for information on any applicable county stay-at-home orders. Not all counties have issued stay-at-home orders. Links to county-level COVID-19 guidance and orders can be found HERE.Owners of businesses located in a city other than Los Angeles (whether within or outside of Los Angeles County) should contact their city mayor’s office or health department for information on any applicable city stay-at-home orders. Not all cities have issued stay-at-home orders. Q: Where should I look for updates to the stay-at-home orders? Here is where to find statewide updates.Here is where to find Los Angeles County updates. Here is where to find City of Los Angeles updates. ................
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