NOTE: On December 3, 2020, the State has announced a Regional Stay at Home Order that goes into effect in regions with less than 15 percent of ICU bed capacity available.
Learn more here.
At this time, SLO County is not under a Regional Order.
Guidance and Instructions for Safe Operations
The County of San Luis Obispo is following State direction on business restrictions and openings.
Find your sector below to access State and local guidance documents for safe operations.
Updated on January 25, 2021
Allowed to Reopen? Please Start Here
- Find your industry sector in the lists below.
- Click on the name of your industry sector in the lists below.
- Identify when/if you are permitted to reopen.
- Review the guidances for your industry sector.
- Some sectors are only permitted to operate out of doors.
- Implement details outlined in your guidance.
- Click on the "Ready to Reopen Toolkit and Self Certification Form" link.
- Complete your Self Certification form and retain at place of business.
- Option - Download your "Open and Safe" sign to hang at your business.
- Reopen!
- Questions? Call the Phone Assistance Center at 805-543-2444.
Currently Permitted to Open
All businesses need to follow the below guidance and complete the self certification process.
State of California - COVID-19 Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening
1. Agriculture and Livestock | ||||||
2. Auto Dealerships | ||||||
3. Body Art | ||||||
This includes tattoo, body piercing and permanent cosmetic facilities. |
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4. Campgrounds and RV Parks | ||||||
5. Car Washes | ||||||
6. Cardrooms and Racetracks (Outdoor Operations Only) | ||||||
7. Casinos | ||||||
8. Childcare | ||||||
9. Churches |
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10. Cohorts for Children and Youth in Supervised Settings | ||||||
A cohort is a stable group of no more than 14 children or youth and no more than two supervising adults in a supervised environment. The group stays together for all activities, including meals and recreation. And this group avoids contact with anyone not in their group. Local educational agencies, nonprofits, or other authorized providers must follow the guidance for cohorts of children and youth in controlled, supervised and indoor environments. These environments include, but are not limited to, the following:
Guidance and directives related to schools, childcare, day camps, youth sports, and institutions of higher education are not superseded by this guidance for cohorts of children and youth and still apply to those specified settings, as well. |
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11. Communications Industry | ||||||
12. Construction | ||||||
13. County Libraries | ||||||
San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Cambria, Los Osos, and Morro Bay. |
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14. Day Camps | ||||||
15. Delivery Services | ||||||
16. Energy and Utilities | ||||||
17. Family Entertainment Centers (Outdoor Operations Only) | ||||||
18. Farmers Markets Guidance | ||||||
19. Food Industry | ||||||
20. First Amendment Rights - Religious Services, Cultural ceremonies, & Protests (Outdoor Operations Only) | ||||||
The State has made allowances for constitutionally protected gatherings to include in-person religious services, cultural ceremonies (which now includes wedding ceremonies but NOT receptions/celebrations), protests, and other constitutionally protected gatherings if they follow the State's COVID-19 Industry Guidance for Places of Worship and Providers of Religious Services and Cultural Ceremonies. Activities conducted at Places of Worship other than services are not allowed at this time, including group gatherings, potlucks, childrens activities, etc. Online services and activities are still encouraged to protect individuals who are most at risk for more severe COVID-19, including older adults and people with specific medical conditions. |
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21. Gyms and Fitness Centers (Outdoor Operations Only) |
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NOTE: This guidance pertains to gyms, fitness centers and studios (gymnastics, dance, pilates, yoga, etc.) |
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22. Hair Salons / Barbershops | ||||||
23. Higher Education | ||||||
24. Holiday Celebrations |
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General gatherings and special events are not permitted at this time. CDPH has released group gathering guidance allowing for three households to gather outdoors for up to 2 hours. General Guidance for Holidays |
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25. Hotels, Lodging and Short Term Rentals | ||||||
NOTE: Fitness centers in these locations must be closed. |
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26. Individual Outdoor Recreation, such as outdoor playgrounds, charter fishing, equine facilities and archery | ||||||
Note: Activities that involve physical contact between participants is NOT allowed, including rodeo, equine events and adult recreation leagues. |
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27. Life Sciences |
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28. Mining and Logging | ||||||
29. Movie Theatres (Outdoor Operations Only) | ||||||
30. Music, Film and TV Production | ||||||
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, productions, cast, crew and other industry workers should abide by safety protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management should adhere to Office Workspace guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. |
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31. Office-Based Businesses (Remote Work Required if not an Essential Business) | ||||||
Note: Offices in non critical sectors must close in office operations starting July 16, 2020. See Essential Critical Infrastructure Sector List to identify if you may remain open. Telework is still encouraged to protect individuals who are most at risk for more severe COVID-19, including older adults and people with specific medical conditions. |
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32. Museums (Outdoor Operations Only) | ||||||
33. Personal Care Services | ||||||
This includes esthetician, skin care, and cosmetology services; nail salons and massage. |
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34. Professional Sports Without Live Audiences | ||||||
Note: This category is not intended to allow youth sports or adult recreation leagues. To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, athletes, coaching staff, medical staff, broadcasting staff and others at sporting facilities or events should abide by COVID-19 protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management should adhere to Office Workspace guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Retail staff should adhere to Retail guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. |
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35. Public Swimming Pools (Outdoor Operations Only) | ||||||
Note: Indoor swimming pools, indoor hot tubs, & spas are NOT allowed to be open currently.
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36. Public Transit | ||||||
37. Real Estate | ||||||
38. Restaurants (Outdoor Operations Only) | ||||||
NOTE: NOTE: Live music / entertainment is now allowed under strict parameters. Live music is limited to a "background music" style performance during regular business hours. Still not permitted are event style concerts where the concert is the primary purpose of the visit. Performances must follow state guidance listed in the Restaurants guide as well as local guidance for live performances. NOTE: Restaurants must provide full service, sit down meals on the same ticket as alcohol sales and remain open ONLY during the hours they serve sit down meals. Bars must remain closed. Alcohol Beverage Control issued requirements for what constitutes a meal. Note: What defines an outdoor tent/structure? Learn more here. |
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39. Retail (Modified Operations Required) | ||||||
NOTE: Maximum capacity for retail locations to 25 percent. This category includes in-store retail, shopping malls and swap meets
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40. Schools | ||||||
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41. Skilled Nursing and Residential Care |
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42. Supply Chains Supporting Retail - Logistics | ||||||
43. Supply Chains Supporting Retail - Manufacturing | ||||||
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44. Wineries (Outdoor Operations Only) | ||||||
NOTE: Live music / entertainment is now allowed under strict parameters. Live music is limited to a "background music" style performance during regular business hours. Still not permitted are event style concerts where the concert is the primary purpose of the visit. Performances must follow state guidance listed in the Wineries guide as well as local guidance for live performances. |
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45. Youth Sports | ||||||
Please note: Observers are not allowed outside of immediate household members.
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46. Zoos (Outdoor Operations Only) |
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Not Allowed to Reopen (Statewide) - Reopening Date TBD
The reopening timeline for these businesses is still to be determined by the state:
Businesses are encouraged to prepare for reopening by:
- Plan and prepare for re-opening
- Make radical changes within the workplace
- Adjust practices by employees and help educate customers
1. Bars, Brewpubs, Breweries, and Pubs |
These best practices document is provided by SLO County to plan and prepare for reopening when allowed to do so. When official guidance is provided by the State of California, it will be available here. All Bars, brewpubs, breweries and pubs are to remain closed to the public. Bars, Brewpubs and pubs that are permitted through Environmental Health as a restaurant, may follow Restaurant Guidance. |
2. Community Centers / Convention Centers |
These best practices document is provided by SLO County to plan and prepare for reopening when allowed to do so. When official guidance is provided by the State of California, it will be available here. |
3. Live Music - Limited Allowances |
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4. Gatherings and Special Events |
California has a travel advisory requiring a 10 day self quarantine for visitors and returning California residents. General gatherings and special events with more than three families are not permitted at this time. CDPH has released group gathering guidance. In Purple/Widespread Tier - only Outdoor Private Gatherings are permitted.
Private gatherings should be two hours or less, and people with a high risk of severe illness are strongly encouraged not to attend. The State has made allowances for constitutionally protected gatherings to include in-person religious services, cultural ceremonies (which now includes wedding ceremonies but NOT receptions/celebrations), protests, and other constitutionally protected gatherings if they follow the State's COVID-19 Industry Guidance for Places of Worship and Providers of Religious Services and Cultural Ceremonies. Attendance at these indoor gatherings protected by the First Amendment must be limited to 25% of total capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees. According to the CDC's Considerations for Events and Gatherings, the risk of COVID-19 spreading at events and gatherings increases as follows:
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5. Live Audience Professional Sports |
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6. Live Theatre |
Live Theatre with audiences is not permitted at this time. |
7. Nightclubs |
These best practices document is provided by SLO County to plan and prepare for reopening when allowed to do so. When official guidance is provided by the State of California, it will be available here. |
8. Playgrounds - Indoor, including bounce centers, ball pits and laser tag |
These best practices document is provided by SLO County to plan and prepare for reopening when allowed to do so. When official guidance is provided by the State of California, it will be available here. |
9. Sauna / Steam Rooms / Indoor Hot Tubs |
These best practices document is provided by SLO County to plan and prepare for reopening when allowed to do so. When official guidance is provided by the State of California, it will be available here. |
10. Theme Parks |
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11. Waterparks |
These best practices document is provided by SLO County to plan and prepare for reopening when allowed to do so. When official guidance is provided by the State of California, it will be available here. |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. My business doesn't have a guidance document. Is one coming? |
We will continue to post new guidances from the state and best practices from the county as they are created. In the meantime, all businesses can utilize our SLO County Best Practices for All Businesses to start planning for their reopening. |
2. What size of group gatherings - in indoor or outdoor spaces - are currently allowable? |
As of October 9, 2020, outdoor private gatherings are allowed under the following conditions:
At any gathering, observe these safety protocols:
Read more details in the state’s private gatherings guidance. |
3. Where can I find information about what to do with cases of COVID at my workplace? |
Try these resources organizations COVID-19 resource pages:
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4. Can I require customers to wear masks or be required by a business to wear a mask? |
Yes. In fact it is a statewide mandate and businesses must require masks be worn. |
5. What do my risk assessment and procedures have to include? |
Your procedures should address all applicable guidance descriptions listed for your business sector. After you read your business sectors guidance, consider document or creating a process flow chart (such as a map) for your businesses processes from beginning to end, then go back and identify where there might be potential for disease transmission between people or of high contact surfaces. You will want to be sure you have procedures in place that address each of these high risk areas in additon to all applicable items in your state issued business sector guidance document. |
6. Does the state provide FAQs? |
Yes. Visit the state's Question and Answer page for more information. |
7. How can I help? |
The health and safety of our residents and the economic health of our communities and businesses will require health, government, education, business, and community members work in concert now and through all phases of reopening. In the same way that our local Shelter at Home Order has required each resident in our communities to modify behavior and practices to manage the spread of COVID-19, it is anticipated the phases of reopening SLO County will also require our communities to sustain and modify behaviors over time. We will all need to adapt to a new normal as the SLO County communities and commerce open gradually and safely, in phases. |
Contact Us
For COVID-19 Questions or Comments:
By Phone:
Contact our Phone Center at 805-543-2444 or 805-781-4280
By Email:
- For General COVID-19 vaccine or pandemic questions, email jic-pio@co.slo.ca.us
- To confirm a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, email publichealth.covidvaccine@co.slo.ca.us
- For Reopening questions related to COVID-19, email eoc-liaison@co.slo.ca.us
- For COVID-19 testing questions, email HA.covidresponse@co.slo.ca.us
- For volunteer opportunities, email slomrc@gmail.com
- For COVID compliance reports, fill out the online compliance form
- For news media questions, email eoc-pic@co.slo.ca.us
- For general Public Health questions, fill out the online contact form
The Office of Emergency Services
1055 Monterey Street D430
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
County OES Business Line: 805-781-5011
County OES Business Email: oes@co.slo.ca.us