County Board of Supervisors Approves Permit Program for Outdoor Personal Services
On Tuesday, August 4, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion, brought by supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn, to create a permitting program for hair salons, barbershops, and personal care establishments to operate outdoors on public streets and in rights-of-way, parking lots, and private walkways in the unincorporated areas of the County. Personal care establishments include estheticians and skin care and cosmetology services; electrology; nail salons; body art professionals, tattoo parlors, microblading and permanent makeup services; piercing shops; and massage therapy (in non-healthcare settings).
These new permits for outdoor operations may come with a cost: The motion allows County departments to charge “necessary” fees for these permits, although such fees are not set. However, the motion does direct the County CEO to seek funding sources, such as CARES Act funding, to offset any such fees or costs. The motion also permits (but does not require) permitting departments to require permittees to have insurance up to a maximum of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in aggregate.
Departments are required to begin accepting applications as soon as possible, and no later than Tuesday, August 18, 2020. This permit program will be in effect for the duration of the County’s COVID-19 local emergency or until rescinded by the Board of Supervisors.