Business Reopening Guide

Am I allowed to reopen my business? 

(updated 7/30/20)

The best way to determine if your business is allowed to reopen is to check the latest public health order issued by the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD). 

Current Alameda County Health Orders

Please click here to download the latest public health order, which was revised on July 19th to allow outdoor dining to resume, and the Oakland Museum to open. 

 At the time of this order, Alameda County had been on the State's County Monitoring List for three days. As a result, indoor malls and indoor worship services are required to close.  Please click here to view the press release.

Note: Hair salons, barber shops, and personal care services (indoor or outdoor) are not currently permitted to open in Alameda County. 

For more information, visit ACPH's Shelter In Place website, or click here for a summary of all health orders issued.

Questions about whether your business is permitted to open?  Please email COVIDRecovery@acgov.org. 

All photographs in this guide are by Maurice Ramirez

My business is not currently allowed to operate - when can I re-open?

As of June 29th, reopening plans in Alameda County have been paused, due to recent increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalization rates in our county and region.  Please click here for more information, including the data indicators that ACPHD uses to determine the timeline for reopening.

What are the rules for reopening?

The Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) provides specific reopening requirements for businesses within their public health orders.  Please click here to download the current public health order to learn the complete requirements for your business.

For retailers, restaurants, manufacturers, logistics/warehousing businesses, please click here to download more detailed requirements and guidelines for your business.

All businesses must implement a Site Specific Protection Plan while operating - please click here to download guidance and a template for creating your own Site Specific Protection Plan. 

Download the State of California's Employer Playbook to learn more about to reopen safely, including what to do if there is a case of COVID-19 in your workplace. 

Please click here to view a complete list of public health orders related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

Not Yet Permitted to Operate?  You Can Still Prepare for Future Reopening

If your business is not yet permitted to open, you can still begin preparations by reviewing guidelines from the State of California and industry associations.

State Guidelines for Specific Industries

As part of their Resilience Roadmap, the State of California has created industry guidance to help Californians prepare for the reopening of our economy. Even if not yet permitted to operate in Alameda County, many businesses may find these industry guidelines helpful as they plan for re-opening. Please click here for specific guidance for restaurants and bars.

Note: The State of California is at a more advanced phase of reopening than Alameda County. Not all of the businesses listed in the Resilience Roadmap are currently permitted to operate in Alameda County.  Where there are differences between the local Health Officer’s order and the State’s order, the stricter restrictions apply

Guidance from Industry Associations

Please click here for a list of reopening guidance from a variety of industry associations.

How can I operate successfully under new guidelines?

The Downtown Alameda Business Association and the Alameda Chamber of Commerce have posted helpful guides to assist businesses in making their reopening as successful as possible. 

• The Downtown Alameda Business Association Reopen Guide: This guide provides best practices for retailers, restaurants, and service providers as they plan to reopen.
• Alameda Chamber of Commerce Return to Business Workbook(PDF, 742KB): This workbook provides help and resources needed to safely reopen, steps that can be taken for future success, and information on how to assess your business needs.

Resources for Reopening Businesses

• #ShopSafeShopLocal: The State of California's #ShopSafeShopLocal website provides a range of resources for businesses as they reopen, including digital marketing materials, and assistance in accessed personal protective equipment. 

• Business Counselling: Alameda businesses can apply for personalized business counselling through East Bay Score (510-273-6611 or info@eastbayscore.org) or the Alameda County SBDC.  Experienced business counselors can help you address a number of issues in the wake of COVID-19, from rethinking your marketing strategy to revising your business plan.

What are the rules about sidewalk dining, expanded hours, and other changes to support businesses?

• Commercial Streets Program: The Commercial Streets program streamlines the permit approval process for businesses to expand dining and retail space to accommodate social distancing requirements.  This includes:
  • Usage of Sidewalks and Parklets
  • Use of Private Parking and Outdoor Space
  • Repurposing of Park and Webster Streets
  • Curbside pick-up parking 

  Please click here to learn more about the program, including requirements and application information.

• Food-related businesses can stay open later: The City of Alameda has implemented emergency zoning changes to extend business hours for food related services and to make curbside pickup easier. The changes allow food-related businesses to sell to-go alcoholic beverages and to stay open until 2am.  Businesses must notify the City via email (permits@alamedaca.gov) if they would like to make this change.  
• Commercial establishments can sell food and other essential goods: Restaurants and other commercial uses are allowed to temporarily sell food and other essential goods.  Businesses must notify the City via email (permits@alamedaca.gov) if they would like to make this change.
• Businesses can use A-frame signs and temporary banners to advertise extended hours, additional food sales and availability of other essential goods.   Zoning regulations limiting temporary banners and A-Frame signs are suspended to allow businesses the opportunity to notify the public of extended hours, additional food sales and availability of other essential goods. To support safe movement of people walking, you must maintain 6 feet of sidewalk clearance, or 8 feet if on Park or Webster Streets. Businesses must notify permits@alamedaca.gov if they would like to display this type of signage, indicating the name and address of the business and types of temporary signs to be installed.
• Updated Regulations Around Alcoholic Beverages: The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has issued several notices of regulatory relief  to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19.  These notices address a range of issues including to-go and delivery cocktails, outdoor alcohol consumption, and the creation of hand sanitizers by distilleries. Please click here for more information, including important details about eligible license types, packaging, and other requirements. 

How can I promote my business?

The City of Alameda has launched What's Open Alameda? to help local business share updated hours, specials, COVID-19 safety measures,and any other information you would like to give your customers. This user-friendly directory is available to all Alameda businesses that are open during the COVID-19 pandemic - please click here to view.

Here's how to make the most of What's Open Alameda:

1. Visit & Verify: Please visit the site to make sure your business is listed and that the information is up to date.
2. Add & Edit: If your business is not listed, or if the listing needs to be updated, you can do so right in the directory. 
   • To add a listing, click on the "+List my Business" button in the upper right hand corner of the directory.
   • To edit an existing listing, navigate to the current listing, and click the "Edit" button in the upper right hand corner of the listing.
   • Add your email address: Make sure to add your email address to your listing. This will make sure you get all future notifications about the directory.
3. Update regularly!: As new public health guidance is issued, update your business information regularly to reflect any changes to hours or operations. 

Please email econdev@alamedaca.gov if you have any questions about the directory.

Information for Restaurants

Currently Permitted

Restaurants are currently allowed to serve and prepare food for take-out, delivery, and outdoor dining.

Please see page 4 of Appendix C for complete guidance on outdoor dining.

All outdoor dining must comply with the Dine-In Restaurants Guidance issued by the State of California.

In addition, all restaurants must comply with the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health (ACDEH) Restaurant Operating Procedures. Note: Major changes to food service operations, such as addition of dining areas, may require advance approval from ACDEH. Contact your inspector to discuss proposed changes. 

 All businesses must implement a Site Specific Protection Plan while operating - please click here to download guidance and a template for creating your own Site Specific Protection Plan. 

Changes to Public Space, Rules and Regulations to Support Restaurants

Curious about sidewalk dining, street closures, and other opportunities increase your dining capacity? Please click here to view changes that are being made to public space and government regulations to support restaurants and other businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional Reopening Guidance for Restaurants

• Restaurant Relaunch: Best Practices for Opening Restaurants and Bars Webinar
• Pandemic Relaunch Toolkit for Bars and Restaurants
• CDC Guidance for Bars and Restaurants
• CDC Decision Tree for Reopening Bars and Restaurants
• State of California Industry Guidance: Dine-in Restaurants

Information for Retailers

Currently Permitted

Indoor and outdoor retail is currently permitted, with the following conditions:

• Stores must limit capacity to 50% of normal maximum capacity or the number of people who can maintain a distance of 6 feet from each other at all times, whichever is lower
• Stores may move goods outside for display or sales if local permits allow
• ACPHD recommends continuing curbside and delivery services as much as possible

Please see page 2 of Appendix C for complete guidance for retail businesses.

In addition, all retail businesses must comply with the Retail Industry Guidance issued by the State of California.

All businesses must implement a Site Specific Protection Plan while operating - please click here to download guidance and a template for creating your own Site Specific Protection Plan. 

Changes to Public Space, Rules and Regulations to Support Retail Businesses

Curious about sidewalk retail, expanded hours, signage, and other opportunities increase your customer capacity? Please click here to view changes that are being made to public space and government regulations to support restaurants and other businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Where can I find additional resources for Alameda businesses?

Please visit our Business Resources page for information about a variety of state, local and federal programs that may help businesses with the impacts of COVID-19.