Guidance and Instructions for Safe Operations

Beginning Wednesday, April 28, 2021, SLO County is in the Orange Tier: 

Orange Tier Stats

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.  

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 and Racetracks 
7. Casinos 
8. Childcare 

9.  Churches 
10. Cohorts for Children and Youth in Supervised Settings

Update March 22, 2021 - Cohort guidance only applies when in the purple tier.

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.
 11. Communications Industry
12. Construction
13. County Libraries

San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Cambria, Los Osos, and Morro Bay.
14. Day Camps
15. Delivery Services
16. Energy and Utilities
17. Family Entertainment Centers
18. Farmers Markets Guidance
19. Food Industry
20. First Amendment Rights - Religious Services, Cultural ceremonies, & Protests 

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.

21. Gatherings and Private Events - New!

Indoors: Max 25% capacity in settings where capacity limits exists or 25 people or whichever is fewer. Indoor private events are not permitted unless all guests are tested or show proof of vaccination (150 people). 

Outdoors: Outdoor gatherings are permitted with a maximum capacity of 50 people. Outdoor private events are allowed for groups of up to 100 people, unless tested or show proof of vaccination (300 people)

Outdoor Seated Live Performances are also permitted under certain circumstances.

22. Gyms and Fitness Centers 

NOTE: This guidance pertains to gyms, fitness centers and studios (gymnastics, dance, pilates, yoga, etc.)
23. Hair Salons / Barbershops
24. Higher Education

25. Holiday Celebrations

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
26. Hotels, Lodging and Short Term Rentals

NOTE: Fitness centers in these locations must be closed. 
27. 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.  

28. Life Sciences
29. Mining and Logging
30. Movie Theatres 
31. 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.
32. Office-Based Businesses 

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.
33. Museums
34. Performances

Live Theatre 

 

Live theatre is currently allowed for drive-in performances or for recordings of performances with no live, in-person audience. 

 

Live music

Indoor performances are now allowed with modifications and capacity limits pursuant to the State’s live events and performances guidance. Audience seating locations must be fixed or marked, with readily identifiable signs to indicate section, row, and seat (assigned seating) and tickets must be purchased in advance. See a summary of required modifications here under ‘Indoor Seated Live Events and Performances’. 

 

The guidance for indoor and outdoor live events and performances does not apply to convention-style events, general admission venues, and events where the central activity allows patrons to move around shared space. 

 

Performances that take place in non-performance venues (like restaurants, bars, or places of worship) must also follow that type of venue’s industry guidance. 

 

See SLO County’s Indoor Seated Live Performance Checklist (English, Spanish) or Private Venue Events Checklist (English, Spanish) for an overview of the guidance. 
35. Personal Care Services

This includes esthetician, skin care, and cosmetology services; nail salons and massage.  
36. Professional Sports with Live Audiences

Professional sports can now open outdoors with modifications and capacity limits pursuant to the State’s live events and performances guidance.  
37. Public Swimming Pools 

Note: Indoor swimming pools, indoor hot tubs, & spas are NOT allowed to be open currently.  
38. Public Transit
39. Real Estate
40. Restaurants 

NOTE: Live music / entertainment is now allowed under strict parameters.  Live music is limited to a "background music" style performance during regular business hours.  Event style music indoors must follow indoor performance guidance with assigned seating. Event style music outdoors must follow outdoor performance guidance. 

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 serving sit down meals can operate under restaurant guidance. Bars that are indoors and do not serve meals must remain closed. Alcohol Beverage Control issued requirements for what constitutes a meal.  

NOTE: What defines an outdoor tent/structure?  Learn more here.
41. Retail 

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

 

 Reopening Guidance
Positive Cases Report for Schools
This form is for use by designated Health Staff or Administrators of public and private schools operating in San Luis Obispo County.  

Additional Resources

Daily Health Screening Template

Daily Screening Result Templates:

 

43. Skilled Nursing and Residential Care
44. Supply Chains Supporting Retail - Logistics
45. Supply Chains Supporting Retail - Manufacturing

 
46. Theme Parks / Amusement Parks 

Theme or amusement parks may open indoors with modifications and capacity limits pursuant to the State’s guidance.  

See a summary of required modifications here under ‘Amusement Parks/ Fairs’. 
47. Water Parks
48. Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries and Bars (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.  Event style music indoors must follow indoor performance guidance with assigned seating. Event style music outdoors must follow outdoor performance guidance. 

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 serving sit down meals can operate under restaurant guidance. Bars that are indoors and do not serve meals must remain closed. Alcohol Beverage Control issued requirements for what constitutes a meal.  

NOTE: What defines an outdoor tent/structure?  Learn more here.
49. Youth and Adult Sports 

50. Zoos

   

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, Indoors 

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 Indoor Music without Designated Seating - Limited Allowances
  • SLO County Protocols for performances with no live/in person audiences 
  • SLO County Protocols for live drive-in performances
  • At wineries and restaurants ONLY:
    • 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. 
    • Outdoor performers must maintain physical distancing from spectators and other performers. Performers who are singing, shouting, playing a wind instrument, or engaging in similar activities without a face covering must maintain at least twelve feet of distance from spectators.  Indoor performances are still not allowed, as indoor operations are not permitted at these businesses
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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. 

 

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. 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

 

3. 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.
4. 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. 
5. Does the state provide FAQs? 
Yes.  Visit the state's Question and Answer page for more information.  
6. 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.