COVID-19 Business Reopening Plans

Effective Wednesday April 7,  Mendocino County entered the Orange Tier. Please refer to the State Blueprint for a Safer Economy page for details of what this means.

The latest Mendocino County health order dated April 2, 2021 is here.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of California and Mendocino County have issued guidance for businesses to reopen. This website is your guide to achieving compliance for reopening.

BEFORE businesses can reopen they must comply with State and County of Mendocino guidelines and submit a self-certification to the County of Mendocino. High-risk sectors must write and upload their plan to this portal. The County recommends businesses review this site on a regular basis for updates to industry best practices.

Follow the simple steps below to self-certify and achieve compliance:

  1. Review the required Mendocino County Safe Operations Business Checklist
  2. Select your industry sector
  3. High risk sectors must write and upload their plan to this portal
  4. Moderate risk sectors can review recommendations and create their plan to have on-site
  5. Complete the Self-Certification (Business License required)
  6. Download your Certificate of Compliance to post at your business

In the Orange Tier, approved activities include but are not limited to:

  • Bars that do not provide meals will be allowed to open outdoors only with distancing, masking and infection control safety measures. Masks are required except when people are eating or drinking.
  • Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries that do not serve meals can now open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
  • Restaurants can increase capacity for indoor dining to 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is less with continued safety modifications.
  • Cardrooms can operate indoors at 25% capacity with modifications.
  • Places of Worship can hold services indoors at 50% capacity with modifications.
  • Fitness Centers can operate indoors at 25% capacity and indoor pools can now re-open with modifications. Masks are required unless swimming.
  • Movie Theatres can increase capacity to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less with modifications. Seats must be reserved, and each group must have 6 feet of distance from other groups in all directions. Masks required.
  • Family Entertainment Centers can open indoors at 25% capacity for distanced activities, such as bowling or escape rooms with modifications. Masks required. Can increase to 50% capacity if all attendees have proof of being fully vaccinated or a recent COVID-19 test with a negative test result. 
  • Grocery and Retail Stores open indoors with modifications.
  • Hair Salons, Barbershops and Personal Care Services open indoors with modifications.
  • Museums and Zoos can be open indoors at 50% capacity with modifications.
  • Fairs can open with a maximum of 25% capacity with modifications. All staff are required to test for COVID-19 weekly, and all visitors and participants must be residents of California.
 
To keep yourself, your family, your friends and neighbors, and the broader community safe, follow these core principles:
  1. Stay masked. Consistent use of face coverings both indoors and outdoors, especially double-masking, is very effective at preventing spread of the coronavirus.
  2. Stay outdoors. Outdoor activities are far safer than indoor ones. 
  3. Maintain at least 6-foot distance from others. Social distancing from those who do not live in your home is effective at keeping the coronavirus away.
  4. Avoid groups outside of your household including crowds. The fewer people you encounter and the fewer interactions you have, the lower the chance the virus will spread.
  5. Get vaccinated when it is your turn.  All vaccines authorized by the FDA for emergency use work well and will help keep you, your family, and your friends safe.

Self Certification Process

The ability for the County to open up safely depends upon the responsible conduct of all of our local businesses, which engagement and cooperation will help the County make the case for expanding more quickly to future phases of reopening as permitted by the State. Even a single business can stall the County from further reopening and possibly cause the County to revert backwards to more restrictive shelter-in-place orders.

High Risk Sectors

Higher risk businesses must upload their plan to this portal. If you don’t yet have a plan, select your industry-specific Health and Safety Form to create one. Your plan may follow any format so long as it addresses the key sector-specific questions.

Campgrounds, RV Parks, Outdoor Recreation

Funeral Services

Gyms and Fitness Facilities

Hair Salons and Barber Shops

Movie Theaters and Family Entertainment Centers

Places of Worship

Tasting Rooms and Bars

Therapeutic Services

Transient Lodging (Including Vacation Rentals)

Zoos, Museums, Galleries, and Aquariums

Moderate Risk Sectors

Agriculture and Livestock

Automobile Dealerships

Child Care Facilities and Day Camps

Construction

Manufacturing

Office Spaces

Restaurants

Retail

Business Self Certification

Fill out and submit the following form. Or you may print out a physical copy of the form here, and mail the completed certification form (with any required attachments) to: County of Mendocino Environmental Health, 860 N. Bush Street, Ukiah, CA 95482.

Step 1 of 4

Further Resources