Leon County Mask Ordinance – Business Protocols

Please see an important message below from Leon County Government regarding the newly approved face covering requirement for our community. Our staff and leadership continue to be engaged with local leaders and are closely monitoring these continuously changing scenarios. As this order affects all businesses in Leon County, we ask that you please closely review the following information.

Leon County Adds Public Mask Requirement to Emergency Ordinance

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect the public health of our community, Leon County has approved an emergency ordinance requiring face coverings scheduled to begin Thursday, June 25 at 12:01 a.m. As confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to rise locally and statewide, the ordinance states that an individual in a business establishment in Leon County must wear a face covering while in that business establishment.

A business establishment means a location with a roof overhead under which any business is conducted, goods are made, stored or processed, or where services are rendered. The term “business establishment” also includes locations where non-profit, governmental, churches and quasi-governmental entities facilitate public interactions and conduct business. Also, as part of the requirement, all businesses must post a notice visible to all customers that face coverings are required while indoors. An example sign can be found HERE.

Facial coverings are not required to be worn by the following persons:

  • Persons under the age of six years;
  • Persons who have trouble breathing due to a chronic pre-existing condition or individuals with a documented or demonstrable medical problem. It is the intent of this provision that those individuals who cannot tolerate a facial covering for a medical, sensory, or any other condition which makes it difficult for them to utilize a facial covering and function in public are not required to wear one;
  • Persons in their private rooms of a lodging establishment, such as a hotel, motel, or vacation rental—however, face coverings must be worn in all indoor commons areas of said establishment;
  • Persons exercising while observing at least six feet of distancing from another person;
  • Restaurant and bar patrons eating or drinking;
  • Business owners, managers, and employees who are in an area of a business establishment that is not open to customers, patrons, or the public, provided that six feet of distance exists between persons.

The ordinance will remain in place until repealed. A copy of the ordinance and frequently asked questions will be posted to the Leon County Emergency Information Portal at www.LeonCountyFL.gov/ei.

The ordinance does not require persons to wear face coverings while outdoors. However, the County still does strongly encourage residents to wear face coverings when unable to socially distance.

Both the Centers for Disease Control and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) recommend individuals use a cloth face-covering in addition to practicing social distancing and frequent hand washing to help stop the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Cloth face coverings provide an extra layer to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto other people.

Distribution of Free Cloth Face Coverings at County Libraries

Starting Wednesday, June 24, Leon County will make thousands of free face coverings available for pickup at all County library locations during regular hours, listed below. Individuals may request one covering and may also pick up one covering for each immediate family member.

  • Main Library (200 West Park Avenue)
  • B.L. Perry, JR. Branch Library (2817 South Adams Street)
  • Eastside Branch Library (1583 Pedrick Road)
  • Jane G. Sauls Fort Braden Branch Library (16327 Blountstown Highway)
  • Lake Jackson Branch Library (3840 North Monroe Street)
  • Northeast Branch Library (5513 Thomasville Road)
  • Woodville Branch Library (8000 Old Woodville Road)

All County branch libraries are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The County main library is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. These additional masks complement the County’s ongoing efforts to distribute cloth face masks at faith-based organizations in southern Leon County, at the FAMU-Bond COVID-19 testing site at Bragg Memorial Stadium and at FDOH’s mobile testing sites throughout the community.

For additional information on COVID-19, the Florida Department of Health has activated a 24/7 COVID-19 call center at (866) 779-6121. Leon County residents can also call the County Health Department at (850) 404-6300, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, the best resource for Florida-specific COVID-19 information remains the following FDOH website: www.FLHealth.gov/COVID-19.