EFFECTIVE AS OF 8:00AM on Tuesday, August 17, 2021
The City of Decatur passed an ordinance regarding masks and face coverings. The ordinance applies to restaurants and other establishments and is in effect until 11:59PM on September 27, 2021.
According to the ordinance, all persons entering an establishment in the City of Decatur shall wear a facial covering or mask while inside such establishment (excluding religious establishments). All employees of establishments in the City of Decatur shall wear a facial covering or mask at all times while having face-to-face interaction with the public. All persons within the City of Decatur shall wear a facial covering or mask when in an outdoor public place when it is not feasible to maintain at least six (6) feet of physical distance from another person who is not part of the same household:
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Establishment means any business, store, or other place where goods or services are sold or provided as part of a commercial or non-profit venture, to which the public is invited or in which the public is permitted. Examples include but not limited to: Restaurants, including indoor and outdoor dining areas; the common areas of commercial, retail and office buildings; grocery, pharmacy, specialty, department and other stores which sell goods or merchandise; etc.
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Public place means any place other than individual’s home, including the curtilage thereof, or a personal vehicle.
In addition, the ordinance states that all establishments in the City of Decatur shall post a sign in a clearly visible location near the front entrance stating the following: “Per City Ordinance, all persons must wear a mask or face covering while on the premise. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $50.00.”
Masks are not required in the following circumstances:
- In personal vehicles or upon residential property;
- When a person is alone in enclosed spaces or only with other household members;
- During outdoor physical activity, provided the active person maintains a minimum of six (6) feet from others who are not part of the same household;
- While drinking or eating;
- When a licensed healthcare provider has determined that wearing a facial covering or mask causes or aggravates a health condition for the individual;
- When wearing a facial covering or mask would prevent the receipt of personal services;
- When complying with the directions of a law enforcement officer or for the purposes of verifying a person’s identity, such as when purchasing alcohol, tobacco, or prescription drugs or when engaging in a financial transaction;
- Children under the age of ten (10) years;
- When the person has a bona fide religious objection to wearing a facial covering or mask; and
- At any polling place and no individual shall be denied ingress or egress to or from a polling place for failure to wear a facial covering or mask; and
According to the ordinance, establishments subject to this ordinance can opt-out of having the ordinance enforced on their premises:
- To not consent of enforcement of ordinance, entity must post a clear, legible sign in one inch Arial font at all public entrances stating “This establishment does not consent to enforcement of any local face covering requirement upon this property.”
- If no sign posted, the ordinance will be enforced on individuals to wear face coverings or masks accordingly.
According to the order, the enforcement will be:
- A First Offense is $25 civil penalty for non-compliance and $50 for the second and any subsequent offenses.
- Every reasonable effort should be made to bring person to voluntary compliance before notice of violation issued.
You can read the full executive order and view all the exemptions listed HERE.
