On June 15, 2021, and in connection with the State of California's termination of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released a revised Health Officer Order: Beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy - Encouraging COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage with Limited Risk Reduction Measures.

All capacity limits and distancing requirements are lifted in California, and most businesses are able to return to full operations. Los Angeles County joined the state in lifting most COVID-19 restrictions. The risk of COVID-19 is still present, especially for those who are not fully vaccinated against the virus.

Even as businesses resume full operations, COVID-19 continues to pose a risk to communities, and it is important for employers to continue to take steps to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission among their workers and customers.

Below are best practices for businesses and employers to keep their workers, customers, and communities safe from COVID-19:

• General
• Food & Beverage Service
• Indoor Fitness
• Large Events
• Offices
• Personal Care

Commercial Tenant Eviction Moratorium

The West Hollywood Commercial Tenant Eviction Moratorium has concluded as of Septemer 30, 2022.  

The West Hollywood City Council approved a temporary moratorium on evictions for commercial tenants on April 6, 2020. This order has been revised on May 4, 2020, July 15, 2020, September 21, 2020, January 19, 2021, March 15, 2021, and most recently on June 21, 2021. Commercial tenants are protected for non-payment of rent until September 30, 2021.

• April 6, 2020 Urgency Ordinance 20-1103U
• May 4, 2020 Urgency Ordinance 20-1105U
• July 15, 2020 Urgency Ordinance 20-1113U
• September 21, 2020 Urgency Ordinance 20-1124U
• January 19, 2021 Urgency Ordinance  21-1131U
• March 15, 2021 Urgency Ordinance 21-1146U
• June 21, 2021 Urgency Ordinance 21-1156U

Key points of the Commercial Eviction Moratorium:

1. Commercial tenants are protected from eviction for non-payment of rent until September 30, 2021.
2. Businesses that are open and operating under the Health Orders without specific limitations from the County Health Order are required to pay a minimum 25% of rent.
3. As of October 1, 2021:
   • Businesses with 20 or fewer employees have 12-months to repay all deferred rent.
   • Businesses with 21 or more employees have 6-months to repay all deferred rent.
4. In order to receive the protection of the ordinance, the tenant must demonstrate that the tenant’s business is closed or limited to prevent the spread of the virus and the tenant demonstrates lost income and inability to pay rent.
5. The tenant must provide notice to the landlord of inability to pay and documentation for each month that the tenant is unable to pay full rent (not one time for the moratorium period). 

Mediation Services for Tenants and Landlords Impacted by COVID-19

The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of West Hollywood, is offering a Mediation Service for West Hollywood commercial tenants and their landlords. This complimentary, supportive, and confidential process provides counseling, and conciliation between parties that have been impacted by COVID-19.

The Mediation Service aims to help tenants and their landlords reach mutually agreeable settlements on how to structure rent deferral and reductions and other lease amendments where warranted to help businesses reopen and stay in business and landlords best maintain good tenants and preserve their properties over the difficult months ahead.

Please visit www.wehochamber.com/mediationservices to access mediation services. 

Additional Information

The City hosted an informational webinar on the Commercial Tenant Eviction Moratorium on April 15, 2020. A recording of the webinar is available to view on www.youtube.com/wehotv. The presentation slide deck is available here.

CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Use the Intuit Aid Assist loan eligibility assessment and get an estimate using their PPP calculator.
Intuit Aid Assist—a free service for everyone—helps U.S.-based businesses, self-employed, contractors, freelancers, and gig workers understand different business relief programs.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. Under the CARES Act the U.S. government created a new type of loan which is fully forgivable and easy to obtain via qualified SBA lenders. 

The CARES Act directs, among other amounts, $349 billion to small businesses as part of an expansion of the SBA’s 7(a) loan program under a new paycheck protection loan program (PPP). Government funds are accessed via 7(a) lenders and 100% guaranteed by the federal government.

• If the 75% of the proceeds are used for payroll and the remaining 25% are essential expenses (payroll, benefits, rent, utilities, and interest), and deployed within 8 weeks of issuance – the loans are fully forgiven.
• Paycheck Protection Plan is available until June 30, 2020.

For more information on who qualifies, loan details and forgiveness requirements, please visit: 

• SBA Paycheck Protection Plan

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for a small business. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Call the SBA Customer Service Center for questions at 1(800)659-2955. 

• Loan Application (Online)

Express Bridge Loan Program

The Express Bridge loan program allows SBA Express lenders to provide expedited financing to small businesses located in declared disaster areas. Express Bridge loans are intended to be interim loans. Businesses use these funds for disaster-related purposes while they apply for and await long-term financing.

• Program Guide

LA County Business Concierge

Businesses throughout Los Angeles County have been experiencing impacts associated with coronavirus since it emerged.  Businesses and their employees are suddenly facing declining sales, operational challenges, or financial uncertainty. The County, as well as the State, has made resources available to business owners during this time. The County's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs' Office of Small Business can help connect you to local, state and federal resources, including layoff aversion and emergency loans.

Visit dcba.lacounty.gov for more resources businesses. To speak to a small business counselor, contact:

• (800) 593-8222 or (844) 432-4900

Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA)

If you are a business or individual with urgent financial needs, Jewish Free Loan Association provides interest-free loans of up to $10,000 to cover, small business losses, lost wages because you can’t go in to work, child-care costs when schools are closed, funds lost due to cancelled travel plans, and more.

LA Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)

The LAEDC has developed an online Coronavirus Response and Recovery Resource Guide to help for-profit and non-profit employers of every size, as well as their employees in LA County, survive and recover from the increasingly devastating economic impacts of the necessary government restrictions imposed to slow the transmission of COVID-19.

California IBank Small Business Loan Guarantee Program

The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) has a Small Business Loan Guarantee Program for guarantees up to $1 million and a micro-lending program for loans up to $10,000 with accommodations for disasters. The program is run through local mission-based lenders, the Financial Development Corporations: Small Business Finance Center. For business located in West Hollywood, please contact the local lender listed below:

Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation

Phone: 213-739-2999, Ext. 222

California Treasurer's Office Capital Access Program (CalCAP) for Small Business

The CalCAP Program for Small Businesses encourages banks and other financial institutions to make loans to small businesses that have difficulty obtaining financing. If you own a small business and need a loan for start-up, expansion or working capital, you may receive more favorable loan terms from a lender if your loan is enrolled in the CalCAP Loan Loss Reserve Program.

CalCAP is a loan loss reserve program which may provide up to 100% coverage on losses as a result of certain loan defaults. With CalCAP portfolio support, a lender may be more comfortable underwriting small business loans.