Reopening of Businesses

Ventura County Moves Into Red Tier - Effective Wednesday, March 17, 2021

The County of Ventura will move to the State’s Red Tier beginning 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2021 as described in the State of CA Public Health Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

 

As a reminder, all essential and non-essential businesses must complete their business registration form (attestation) with the County of Ventura prior to opening. Businesses that have previously completed this form do not need to resubmit.

 

Below is a partial list of business sectors allowed to open, with modifications, under the Red Tier. For a complete list, please visit the State of CA Public Health Blueprint for a Safer Economy Activity & Business Tiers chart and VCReopens for specific industry sector guidance.


Moving from the purple tier into the red tier for the County means:

 

Bars

  • Closed unless serving food (if serving food, see restaurant guidance).

 

Wineries, brewery, distilleries 

  • Breweries, wineries and distilleries that do not serve meals can open outdoors only with modifications. The modifications include ensuring that patrons have reservations and patrons observe a 90-minute time limit. Service for on-site consumption must end by 8:00 p.m.

 

Gyms, Fitness Facilities, Yoga and Dance Studios

  • Open indoors - Max 10% capacity.
  •  6-ft social distancing instead of the previous requirement of 12 ft.

Hair Salons & Barbershops

  • Open indoors with modifications.

 

Movie Theaters

  • Open indoors - Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.

 

Museums, Galleries, Zoos, & Aquariums

  • Open indoors - Max 25% capacity.

 

Private Gatherings

  • Private gatherings can occur both outdoors and indoors with up to 3 separate households.

 

Restaurants

  • Open indoors - Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
  • The 11:00 p.m. closure requirement is lifted. The single household dining limitation is lifted. State gathering guidance limits gatherings to 3 households or less.

Retail

  • Open indoors - Max 50% capacity.

 

Shopping Malls

  • Open indoors with modifications - Max 50% capacity.
  • Food Courts - 25% max capacity (refer to restaurant guidance).
  • Common areas remain closed.

Additional COVID Related Information

How to Find Out Your Business Occupant Load

 

If your business does not have an Occupancy Load sign posted, please contact:

  • COVID Compliance Hotline at 844-826-7367 and select 'Ventura' from the menu options. Your call will be routed to a City of Ventura representative for assistance. 
    • Please note: you must include staff in the occupancy calculations. For example, for a restaurant with a posted occupancy of 100, you can have 25 people indoors (25% occupancy). If you have 10 staff, then you can have 15 customers indoors.

Important steps for businesses to reopen:

Before reopening, all businesses authorized to reopen must confirm the following at www.VCReopens.com

  1. Begin by reviewing the guidance published by the State of California here
  2. Upon reviewing the guidance, complete a detailed risk assessment of your business in accordance with the state guidelines
  3. Complete a written worksite-specific COVID-19 Prevention Plan and post it at your business
  4. Implement the prevention measures identified in your worksite-specific COVID-19 Prevention Plan
  5. Designate an on-duty employee responsible for monitoring compliance with your plan
  6. Complete the attestation form here.
  7. Upon completing your attestation, an official from your local jurisdiction may conduct a site visit
  8. Post the hotline flyer form at your business so that it is visible to customers and employees. (COVID-19 Hotline Flyer)


Business Information Support

County of Ventura COVID Business Compliance Line

For questions regarding Stay Well at Home Orders and business re-openings, please contact the County of Ventura at:

  • COVID-19 Compliance Hotline: 1-844-VC-OPENS or 1-844-826-7367
  • COVID-19 Compliance Email: covidcompliance@ventura.org
    • You may also email or call the hotline to report a local business that is not properly complying with the County of Ventura order.
    • The City of Ventura Code Enforcement Division will be performing COVID-19 prevention plan reviews with local businesses (with the exception of restaurants, dental offices, and automotive and repair shops)
    • The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division will be conducting all restaurant inspections
Face Coverings Required - 6ft Physical Distancing Notice

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Print & Digital Resources

A webpage that contains print and digital Coronavirus COVID-19 design resources from local, state, and national agencies. This toolkit includes social media graphics and printed materials available for download.