Emergency Ordinance 2020-06
On June 29, Town Council passed a new ordinance (Ordinance 2020-06) which imposes for 30 days a requirement that face coverings be worn in certain public areas within the Town of Kiawah Island. These requirements are effective at noon, Wednesday, July 1. The entire text of the ordinance can be found here.
The key provisions are:
- For businesses, clubs and association facilities, except restaurants:
- All persons, including employees must wear a face covering at all times including when entering or while waiting to enter.
- For restaurants, indoor and outdoor:
- All employees who directly interact with the public must wear a face covering; and
- All persons entering a restaurant, waiting to enter or to be seated, or waiting for take-out, are required to wear a mask at all times except while seated for dining or beverage service.
Ordinance 2020-06 includes exemptions for children under the age of three years old, persons with certain health issues that prevent the wearing of a face covering, and for persons in private offices.
This Emergency Ordinance may be enforced by the Town’s code enforcement officers. Persons violating this Emergency Ordinance will be subject to a criminal fine of $25.00 plus required statutory assessments. Businesses not requiring employees to wear face coverings will be subject to a criminal fine of $100.00 plus required statutory assessments.
Emergency Ordinance 2020-03
On June 15, Town Council approved Ordinance 2020-03 which will expire on August 8, 2020, unless modified or rescinded earlier. The emergency ordinance can be read in its entirety here. A summary is provided below. All directives and procedures adopted by the Town’s prior Emergency Ordinances (2020-01, 2020-02) were rescinded with the following exceptions:
- The Town adopted all Executive Orders as amended issued by Governor Henry McMaster related to the coronavirus.
- Essential businesses covered by the Governor’s Executive Order No. 2020-21; Section 1(1) must:
- Limit the number of customers not to exceed five customers per 1,000 square feet of retail space or twenty percent (20%) of the occupancy limit as determined by the fire marshal, whichever is less
- Limit customers to a single person per family or group at a time except for shoppers with small children when no other adult is present and persons that medically require assistance
- Not allow patrons to congregate within six (6) feet of one another, exclusive of family units
- Comply with sanitation guidelines promulgated by the CDC, DHEC, or any other state or federal public health officials
Further, businesses that limit the maximum occupancy to less than approved by building or fire authorities must prominently display the revised occupancy level at all entrances. If applicable to the business, the requirement for “a single person per family or group” must be prominently displayed at all entrances.