On March 31, 2020, the Marin County Health Officer issued a new Shelter in Place Order (“Order”) that extends the shelter in place mandate through May 3, 2020.
Essential construction is defined by the Order as:
- Projects immediately necessary to the maintenance, operation or repair of Essential Infrastructure;
- Projects associated with Healthcare Operations, including creating or expanding Healthcare Operations, provided that such construction is directly related to the COVID-19 response;
- Affordable housing that is or will be income-restricted, including multi-unit or mixed-use developments containing at least 10% income-restricted units;
- Public works projects if specifically designated as an Essential Governmental Function by the lead governmental agency;
- Shelters and temporary housing, but not including hotels or motels;
- Projects immediately necessary to provide critical non- commercial services to individuals experiencing homelessness, elderly persons, persons who are economically disadvantaged, and persons with special needs;
- Construction necessary to ensure that existing construction sites that must be shut down under this Order are left in a safe and secure manner, but only to the extent necessary to do so; and
- Construction or repair necessary to ensure that residences and buildings containing Essential Businesses are safe, sanitary, or habitable to the extent such construction or repair cannot reasonably be delayed.
This basically means, that all construction work must immediately cease and desist unless authorized by the City of San Rafael Chief Building Official. As stated in the Order “Most construction — residential and commercial — is prohibited.” Only essential construction projects are allowed to continue under the Order of the Health Officer dated 3/31/2020.