Public Health Orders | COVID Business Compliance | General FAQs
COVID BUSINESS COMPLIANCE – PHONE: 844 VC-OPENS | EMAIL: covidcompliance@ventura.org
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(New/Updated FAQs highlighted with RED border)
PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER INFORMATION
- Outdoor services may be performed with up to 100 persons present who can be safely physically distanced or a lesser number up to what the venue can safely support.
- Indoor funeral services are allowed following places of worship guidance at 25 percent capacity.
The State of California has issued guidance for gatherings of no more than three households. View the gathering guidance here: California Department of Public Health Gathering Guidance page
To report gatherings that are not following the State issued guidance please call your local police or code enforcement at the following numbers:
Santa Paula PD – 805-525-4477
Simi Valley Code Compliance – 805-583-6753
Oxnard PD – 805-385-7740
City of Ventura - COVID Compliance Line (844-VC-OPENS)
Port Hueneme PD – 805-986-6530
Ventura County Sheriff Covering Ojai, Moorpark, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Fillmore, Lockwood Valley and Unincorporated Areas: 805-654-9511
Temporary outdoor structures must be approved by the local permitting authority. Click here to see what is allowed for compliant outdoor seating.
Review the most recent health orders here.
For businesses that have assemblies, classrooms, dining, drinking, or similar purposes of 50 or more, they should have the total occupant load sign posted inside the business. If a business does not have a sign posted, they need to call their fire department jurisdiction for information.
- County Fire Department: 805-389-9738
For all businesses in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County and the cities of Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ojai, Santa Paula, Moorpark, Port Hueneme
- City of Fillmore Fire Department: 805-524-1500 ext. 226
- City of Oxnard Fire Department: 805-385-7722
- City of Ventura: 1-844-VCOPENS (1-844-826-7367)
The Governor has ordered Californians to obey the directives of the State and Local Public Health Officer. Those directives take many forms; they include specific materials linked on this page, as well as these questions and answers. These questions and answers are directives from the State and Local Public Health Officer, and have the same force and effect as other State and Local Public Health Officer directives.
Yes. This is a legally enforceable order. It is against the law to violate this Order, and you may be punished by a fine or imprisonment for doing so.
The best way to reduce their risk of getting sick, as with seasonal colds or the flu, still applies to prevent COVID-19:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover your cough or sneeze.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Avoid groups (stay at least six feet away from others).
- Reduce the time you are around others outside the home, even when at least six feet away.
At least six (6) feet, which is appropriately two to three steps away, including if you are on the bus or train. This is why it’s important to only take public transportation for essential activities–you want to help everyone be able to practice social distancing.
HEALTHCARE AND HELPING SICK RELATIVES
Yes you can visit your loved one at a Long Term Care Facility. View the guidance here. Visitations to Skilled Nursing Facilities are not yet allowed by the state.
If you are feeling sick, please first call your doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center.
Do not go to the emergency room of a hospital unless you have deemed that you have an actual emergency.
For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence to work for or obtain services at any health care provider, including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical and scientific research facilities, laboratories, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, veterinary care providers, mental health providers, physical therapists and chiropractors, cannabis dispensaries with medicinal permits, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services, manufacturers and suppliers. Health care providers do not include exercise gyms and similar facilities.
To the extent possible, all health care visits that are not cancelled or rescheduled should be done remotely.
If you are feeling sick, please first call your primary care doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center before going to the hospital. Check online resources like the CDC website if you are worried that you or a loved one has the COVID-19 virus. Do not go to the emergency room of a hospital unless you have deemed that you have an actual emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
If possible, walk or drive yourself to the hospital or medical provider. If someone else in your home is sick and can drop you off, that is another good option.
If you have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like a surgical mask or N-95 mask, you can wear that to prevent exposing others. If you don’t have that, you could use a temporary method such as wrapping a clean scarf around your mouth and nose to try to reduce droplets when you cough and sneeze. Although this is not an approved method, it is something you can do to avoid exposing others.
Yes. Be sure that you protect them and you by following social distancing guidelines such as washing hands before and after, using hand sanitizer, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance when possible, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue.
You are permitted to provide care or to help with getting supplies for loved ones. But don’t provide care or pick up supplies if you are sick and someone else can do it. If you are sick, please try to self-isolate or take other steps not to expose anyone else to your illness.
Yes, they can take place. All participants must be socially distanced and wear masks.
SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE
- Groups sizes are limited to a 14-1 ratio for each group (14 campers with one instructor).
- Each group must be stable. The same campers and instructor stay together and do not mix with other groups, including from day to day.
- Any camp activity must maintain 6-foot social distancing. Individual skills and drills can be done, but no group or contact sports such as a football or basketball games may be played.
Non accredited art schools that perform after school youth and adult programs can operate under the Day Camps and Cohorts guidance. The business must register to be open at www.VCreopens.com.
Currently (Tier 1), post-secondary art schools must remain closed for indoor lectures and student gatherings. Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open. Post-secondary art schools must follow the state guidance for Higher Education and register to be open at www.VCreopens.com under the Educational Services category.
Childcare facilities may only operate if they comply with the conditions of this Order as they related to child care. Among these conditions, children must be cared for in groups of 12 or fewer, groups of children may not mix with each other, and providers may not circulate between groups.
Yes.
Yes, school waiver applications are being accepted at this time for TK to 6th grade. View Public Health News Release
Yes, childcare is allowed. Childcare must follow the state issued childcare guidance. Childcare can be offered on school sites.
The state issued guidance for colleges and college sports on August 7 at the following link here.
WHAT CAN I DO?
- Outdoor wedding ceremonies are allowed. Masks and social distancing required.
- No reception or party permitted.
- Indoor ceremonies are permitted with 25 percent capacity following places of worship guidance.
Yes, bingo operators can provide bingo outdoors in the purple and red tiers.
Yes, these businesses can operate outdoors in the purple and red tiers.
Places of worship can offer services indoors following the industry guidance with modifications. Indoor activities must be limited to the State's interim capacity of 25% or a maximum of 100 attendees. View the guidance for places of worship at the following link: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-places-of-worship--en.pdf. The State has noted that the guidance is in the process of being updated. Once updated a new link will be shared.
Businesses and organizations offering indoor physical activities such as yoga, dance studios, martial arts and other similar activities must follow the Gyms and Fitness Center Guidance. These businesses cannot follow Day Camp Guidance. A gym can offer personal training for only one person at a time (no more than a total of one trainer and one client permitted at a time per business premises). Follow the guidance for limited services when providing one-on-one personal fitness training.
Gyms, Fitness Facilities, martial arts studios, yoga studios, Pilates studios, dance studios and similar facilities are allowed to operate outdoors following the Gyms and Fitness Center Guidance. 12 ft social distancing and masks are required in Ventura County. A gym can offer personal training for only one person at a time (no more than a total of one trainer and one client permitted at a time per business premises). Follow the guidance for limited services when providing one-on-one personal fitness training.
Yes, a gym can offer personal training for only one person at a time (no more than a total of one trainer and one client permitted at a time per business premises). Follow the guidance for limited services when providing one-on-one personal fitness training.
To prevent gatherings and further spread of COVID-19 public health highly discourages television programming during Super Bowl weekend.
Scouts and groups like 4H for kids are permitted under the cohorting guidance. The guidance applies to youth programs and recreational programs for kids. View the guidance here.
Open air markets are allowed if the main activity of the market is to allow people to shop in an outdoor environment for goods and/or food. No events/gatherings, live music, entertainment, or other activities that encourage lingering or gathering of people are allowed. Outdoor shopping operators must meet local permitting requirements and follow the guidance for Shopping Centers.
These businesses can operate outdoors only. Sit down dining may only take place with members of the same household, it must be outdoors and must end between 11 pm and 5a.m. Restaurants can remain open for takeout or delivery past 11 pm. There is no required closure time.
Alcohol can only be sold in the same transaction as a meal. Curbside service is allowed. Local cities may have additional restrictions regarding outdoor operations. Please check with your local city before starting any outdoor operations.
No, wineries can only operate outdoors. Wineries do not have to serve food to remain open outdoors.
Yes, these businesses can open outdoors only.
Outdoor operations only. Drive In movies are allowed with members of one household per car.
Yes, nail salons can operate indoors with modifications.
Yes, hair salons can operate indoors with modifications.
Yes, these businesses can operate indoors with modifications.
Yes, massage services are allowed indoors with modifications.>
Yes, these businesses can operate indoors with modifications.
Karaoke can resume with the following modifications:
- Use disposable microphone covers, sanitizing the microphone after each user, and use a no-touch digital songbook.
- Solo or duet (from same household) singers/musicians can perform outdoors at restaurants, bars, or wineries.
- The soloist/duet must stay at least 20 feet away from patrons and not amplify the music to the point where people have to lean in to be heard.
- The live music cannot cause people to gather. It should be for the benefit of the business patrons who are already seated and not to attract people to gather around the performers and/or stage.
- All other local and state guidance must be followed.
Yes, garage sales can take place and swap meets must follow the shopping center guidance at 25% capacity.
Yes, RV parks may be open with modifications.
Live music is allowed outdoors with the following modifications:
- Live solo or duet (from same household) singers/musicians can perform outdoors at restaurants, bars, or wineries.
- The soloist/duet must stay at least 20 feet away from patrons and not amplify the music to the point where people have to lean in to be heard.
- The live music cannot cause people to gather. It should be for the benefit of the business patrons who are already seated and not to attract people to gather around the performers and/or stage.
Yes, tanning salons must follow the state guidance for Limited Services.
Yes, salons and barbershops may operate indoors in all tiers.
Grocery stores, farmers markets and other food retailers may operate at 50% of capacity (based on fire department occupancy limits). All access to grocery stores must be strictly metered to ensure compliance with the limit on capacity.
Yes, pet grooming is allowed and must follow the Limited Services guidance.
Persons seeking signatures on voter initiatives or referenda, those campaigning for elected office and their campaign workers may engage with resident’s door-to-door, but must wear a mask, should maintain a 6-foot distance from residents whenever possible and should disinfect equipment, pens, clipboard, touch pads, shared materials and/or mobile terminals after each interaction.
All other solicitors can leave materials such as doorhangers or flyers at the doorstep, but cannot ring the doorbell, knock on the door or otherwise attempt to engage with residents.
The Stay Home Order instructs Californians to stay at home as much as possible and to stop mixing between households that can lead to COVID-19 spread. Drive thru events, including parades, are discouraged as it takes individuals away from their home and may result in mixing with others outside their household.
The Regional Stay Home Order instructs Californians to stay at home unless it is for an essential matter. Food distribution events are an essential facet of ensuring a food supply to families and individuals suffering from financial and/or food insecurity. To the extent possible, vehicles should contain a single household, and all drive in participants should be masked and follow appropriate physical distancing.
Business guidance and restrictions are listed at our www.VCreopens.org webpage.
Yes, they can be open outdoors. Indoor operations must be closed in the purple tier. 12 foot social distancing and masks are required outside.
Can I go swimming?
Yes, public pools and pools managed by HOA can be open. They must follow the following guidance:
Are one-on-one swim lessons allowed?
One-on-one drowning prevention lessons are allowed for students of any age by Certified Swim Instructors only, provided necessary health and safety protocols are in place.
Can HOA pools be open?
Yes, they must follow the following guidance: (Click here for guidance).
Can Public Pools be open?
They must follow the following guidance: (Click here for guidance).
Public Pools
- Limited to 50% capacity
- Use a reservation system
- Follow County of Ventura Environmental Health guidance for pools
Please review the Business Guidance documents:
No. Gatherings are not permitted. Private social clubs that are not otherwise open as a restaurant must be closed.
- Short-term rentals do not need to register at VCReopens.com. Attestation is included through permit issuance.
- No. Hotels need to follow the state issued guidance, and rooms do not need to be left vacant for 24 hours after a guest has departed.
Bars, restaurants, barbershop, salons, gym, and personal care services operating outdoors can keep the restrooms open for client use. Clients must wear face coverings while indoors and only use restroom, no other services.
Yes.
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 follow the guidance for office workspaces: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-office-workspaces--en.pdf. More information can be found at https://www.venturacountyfilm.com/permit/.
You should still try to maintain a least six feet between you and others. When that isn’t possible for short periods, do your best to keep the duration short. Be sure when you are in line that you don’t sneeze or cough onto people. If needed, cough or sneeze into your shirt or into an elbow with clothing on.
Schools, soup kitchens, food banks, and other entities that provide free or reduced priced food goods or meals to students or other members of the public are encouraged to continue providing these services. However, food provided by these establishments to the public may not be eaten on the premises but must instead be delivered or taken away for consumption.
No. You will continue to be able to purchase these items whenever you need them, as stores selling necessary items like grocery stores, pharmacies, and hardware stores will remain open. Please continue to buy normal quantities of these items on the same schedule you normally do. This will ensure that there is enough for everyone.
To either continue or resume operation, the non-profit must complete the Business Attestation process online at https://www.vcemergency.com/business-attestation, utilizing the Workplace Type “Non-Profit.”
Yes.
Yes. Please call first to determine if there are any restrictions in place.
Yes.
Yes, but avoid unnecessary trips.
Bicycle stores can remain open. This includes the sales of bicycles, parts and supplies as well as the repair of bicycles. Bicycle rentals are allowed.
Yes. Because cannabis may be used for medicinal purposes, cannabis stores qualify as a “Healthcare Operation” under the broad definition of that term in the current health officer order and therefore are allowed to continue to operate, subject to the restrictions generally applicable to all Essential Businesses under the current health officer order and all otherwise applicable laws.
To report a business operating in violation of this order, you may call the COVID Business Compliance line at 805-202-1805 or email CovidCompliance@ventura.org.
Florists are now permitted to operate under the guidelines of the Stay Well VC Order.
Yes. With the elimination of the essential business model in the local health order, and reliance on the State health order model for critical infrastructure, the Sheriff and local health officer have determined that the gun stores may fully open to the public provided they implement and register site-specific prevention plans as described www.vcreopens.com.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
SHOPPING, GETTING AROUND, DAILY NEEDS, AND OUTDOOR RECREATION
Follow this guidance for youth and adult recreational sports, both indoor and outdoor.
This guidance applies to:
- All organized youth sports, including school- and community-sponsored programs, and privately-owned clubs and leagues
- Adult recreational sports
This guidance does not apply to collegiate or professional sports.
The California Department of Public Health has collected questions and answers about youth sports.
Children and youth participating in sports must follow the guidance related to cohorts.
Outdoor playgrounds can open with modifications in all tiers. Indoor playgrounds are closed.
Shopping malls may be open at 25% capacity. Common areas and food courts must be closed.
Yes, outdoor skateparks can open with modifications in all tiers and should follow the playground guidance.
Below is a list of some outdoor recreational activities.
- Badminton (singles)
- Throwing a baseball/softball
- BMX biking
- Canoeing (singles)
- Crabbing
- Cycling
- Exploring rock pools
- Gardening (not in groups)
- Golfing (doubles, only if cart has protective partition)
- Hiking (trails/ paths allowing distancing)
- Horse riding (singles)
- Jogging and running
- Kite boarding and kitesurfing
- Meditation
- Outdoor photography
- Picnics (with your household members only)
- Quad biking
- Rock climbing
- Roller skating and rollerblading
- Rowing (singles)
- Scootering (not in groups)
- Skateboarding (not in groups)
- Soft martial arts – tai chi, chi kung (not in groups)
- Surfing
- Tennis (Click here for safety tips for playing tennis during COVID.)
- Table tennis (singles)
- Throwing a football, kicking a soccer ball (not in groups)
- Trail running
- Trampolining
- Tree climbing
- Volleyball (singles)
- Walk the dog
- Wash the car
- Watch the sunrise or sunset
- Yoga
Review the state outdoor recreation guidance at: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-campgrounds.pdf.
Yes, if they use a partition in the golf cart. Learn more here.
Yes, you can go to the store to buy food, drinks and goods for yourself, for those in your home, and for anyone else that needs help. This also includes medical supplies at a pharmacy and supplies at a hardware store.
Public transit will continue to operate on a limited basis. When using public transit, maintain at least six feet of distance from others.
Yes. All retail stores are open. However, you should minimize unnecessary trips.
Yes. The mail and other delivery services to your home can continue to function, as can food delivery services.
Yes. The Order identifies businesses that deliver goods or services directly to residences may continue to operate.
Only for essential travel. You should avoid being in a vehicle with many other people. In circumstances under which such transportation is needed, you must practice social distancing, cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands before and after rides. Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers, like Uber and Lyft, providing transportation services necessary for essential activities and other purposes are expressly authorized in the “Stay Well at Home” Order.
Yes, they can be open.
Yes, beaches are open. You can sit on the beach. Bathrooms and parking are open.
No. You can only gather with members of your household at this time. You can only play a game at a park with the people that you live with.
You can only play these types of games with members of your household. You cannot play these games with those who do not live in your household.
Yes, you can play games with members of your household. You cannot play a game with people who do not live in your household.
Outdoor Photography is permitted. Outdoor photography, including professional family photos or portraits, must adhere to social distancing protocols. All subjects being photographed must be members of the same household. Indoor photography sessions including individuals not of the same household are not permitted. Commercial photo shoots must obtain a permit by the local permitting agency, such as a city. Commercial photo shoots fall under the guidelines for “Music, Film, and Television,” and must meet additional requirements which can be viewed at www.venturacountyfilm.com.
WHERE CAN I FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
For recommendations on how to protect your family members and loved ones, please visit:
Please follow the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America -- 15 Days to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
For pets: