At their meeting on June 25, 2020, Charleston City Council approved an emergency ordinance requiring face coverings in public areas throughout the city of Charleston to reduce risk of exposure to COVID-19.
With the city’s COVID-19 case growth rate falling from 19% to .64% since the passage of Charleston’s mask ordinance, City Council voted on August 18, 2020 to further strengthen the city’s emergency ordinance requiring face coverings by removing the mandatory warning and instead imposing a $100 fine for a first offense.
During the warning period of enforcement, which began when Council first passed the ordinance in June, city Livability and Tourism officers issued more than 200 warnings and wrote more than 20 citations for repeat offenses.
With that education and warning period having now concluded, officers have shifted more heavily toward enforcement via citations.
The amended ordinance now in effect citywide imposes a $100 fine for a first offense, $200 for a second and $500 for a third.
Per CDC guidelines, a distance of at least 6 feet should continue to be maintained between yourself and others, as face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing.
Resources:
- The full ordinance passed by City Council can be viewed here.
- Free 8.5 x 11 informational flyers regarding proper use of face coverings and other COVID-19 related precautions are available for download here to be displayed in local businesses.
- Additional information regarding the city’s face covering ordinance can be found in this FAQ.