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 September 22, 2020

Allowed to Reopen? Please Start Here

  1.  Find your industry sector in the lists below.
  2. Click on the name of your industry sector in the lists below.
  3. Identify when/if you are permitted to reopen. 
  4. Review the guidances for your industry sector.
  5. Some sectors are only permitted to operate out of doors.
  6. Implement details outlined in your guidance.
  7. Click on the "Ready to Reopen Toolkit and Self Certification Form" link.
  8. Complete your Self Certification form and retain at place of business.
  9. Option - Download your "Open and Safe" sign to hang at your business.
  10. Reopen!
  11. 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.  
4. Campgrounds and RV Parks
5. Car Washes
6. Cardrooms (Outdoor Operations Only) and Racetracks 

NOTE: Beginning July 13 - Outdoor operations only.  No indoor operations allowed per state order.
7. Casinos 
8. Childcare 
9. 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:

  • public and private schools
  • licensed and license-exempt child care settings 
  • organized and supervised care environments, like “distance learning hubs”
  • recreation programs
  • before and after school programs
  • youth groups
  • day camps

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and directives related to schools, childcare, day camps, youth sports, and institutions of higher education are not superseded by this guidance for cohorts of children and youth and still apply to those specified settings, as well.
 10. Communications Industry
11. Construction
12. County Libraries

San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Cambria, Los Osos, and Morro Bay.
13. Day Camps
14. Delivery Services
15. Energy and Utilities
16. Family Entertainment Centers (Outdoor Operations Only)

NOTE: Beginning July 13 - Outdoor operations only.  No indoor operations allowed per state order.
17. Farmers Markets Guidance
18. Food Industry
19. First Amendment Rights - Religious services, cultural ceremonies & protests

Note: Beginning September 22, these activities are allowed indoors at 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.

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.

20. Gyms and Fitness 

Note: Beginning September 22 - indoor gym and fitness center operations allowed at 10 percent capacity.
21. Hair Salons / Barbershops
22. Higher Education
23. Hotels, Lodging and Short Term Rentals
24. Individual Outdoor Recreation, such as 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.  

25. Life Sciences
26. Mining and Logging
27. Movie Theatres 

Modified operations required: 25 percent capacity, or 100 persons, whichever is fewer.
28. 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.
29. Office-Based Businesses (Modified Operations Required)

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.
30. Outdoor and Indoor Museums 

Note: Beginning September 22, indoor operations allowed at 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
31. Personal Care Services

This includes esthetician, skin care, and cosmetology services; nail salons and massage.  
32. 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.
33. Public Swimming Pools (Outdoor Operations Only)

Note: Indoor swimming pools are not allowed to be open currently.  Hot tubs/spa pool are NOT allowed to reopen at this time.
34. Public Transit
35. Real Estate
36. Restaurants

NOTE: Beginning September 22 - indoor operations allowed at 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.

NOTE: Live music / entertainment is NOT currently allowed at any time.  Bars/breweries must provide full service, sit down meals on the same ticket as alcohol sales to remain open.  Alcohol Beverage Control issued requirements for what constitutes a meal.  
37. Retail 

Note: Beginning September 22, maximum capacity has increased for retail locations to 50 percent.

This category includes in-store retail, shopping malls and swap meets
38. Schools

San Luis Obispo County was added to the County Monitoring List (which has been replaced with a tier system) on July 16.  For in-person instruction to be permitted, the county must meet State criteria and be off of the 'Widespread' purple tier for 14 days. For elementary schools wishing to return to in-person instruction, a waiver process is allowed.  

 

 Reopening Guidance
 In-Person Instructions and Waiver Information

 
39. Supply Chains Supporting Retail - Logistics
40. Supply Chains Supporting Retail - Manufacturing
41. Wineries

Note: Beginning July 13, wineries can operate OUTDOORS only.
42. Youth Sports (Not Adult Rec League Sports)

43. Zoos

NOTE: Beginning September 22 -indoor operations permitted at 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whicever is fewer.

   

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. Adult Recreation Leagues

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.
2. 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.

As of July 13, 2020 all Bars, brewpubs, breweries and pubs are to remain closed to the public unless they provide full service, sit down meals on the same ticket as the alcohol.  Alcohol Beverage Control issued requirements for what constitutes a meal.  
3. 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.
4. Live Music / Concerts / Festivals/ Symphonies

Note: Live music, even one musician, is not allowed at restaurants, wineries, bars, etc. at this time.

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.
5. Gatherings and Special Events

General gatherings and special events are not permitted at this time.  CDPH has released group gathering guidance.

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 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:
  • Lowest risk: Virtual-only activities, events, and gatherings.
  • More risk: Smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings in which individuals from different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear cloth face coverings, do not share objects, and come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city, or county).
  • Higher risk: Medium-sized in-person gatherings that are adapted to allow individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and with attendees coming from outside the local area.
  • Highest risk: Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.

Holiday Guidance from the CDC
6. Indoor Recreation, including martial arts

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.
7. Live Audience Sports

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. Live Theatre

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. 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.
10. Playgrounds - Outdoor and 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.
11. Sauna / Steam Rooms / 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. 
12. Theme Parks

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.
13. 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? 

Group gatherings are not currently allowed in California.  Per the state's website: State public health directives prohibit professional, social and community gatherings. Gatherings are defined as meetings or other events that bring together persons from multiple households at the same time for a shared or group experience in a single room, space, or place such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, or other indoor or outdoor space. They pose an especially high danger of transmission and spread of COVID-19.  Additional gathering guidance is available from CDPH.
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:

 

CDPH

 

OSHA

 

AIHA

 

CDC

 

EPA

 

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.