Decatur City Commission Passes Mandatory Mask Ordinance

Update: The ordinance has been extended to expire June 21, 2021 at midnight.

The Decatur City Commission has unanimously approved a local ordinance requiring individuals to wear masks and protective coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ordinance O-20-09 was adopted during a special called meeting on Friday morning, July 10, 2020. The ordinance is effective starting at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, and will remain in place until midnight on August 17, 2020, or until it is extended, rescinded, or amended by the City Commission. The complete ordinance is below.

The purpose of the ordinance is to help prevent infection by reducing the community spread of COVID-19, a highly contagious and dangerous disease. The City of Decatur is the seat of DeKalb County, where infection and deaths from COVID-19 continue to increase. The ordinance is similar to ordinances and executive orders recently approved in Savannah, Athens-Clarke County, East Point, and Brookhaven. Decatur’s ordinance is consistent with and is intended to supplement and further Governor Kemp’s executive orders that urge all residents and visitors to Georgia to wear masks and face coverings in public places where they cannot practice social distancing.

Businesses in Decatur are required to post a sign providing notice of the mask requirement to patrons. The required signs are being provided to local businesses by the City of Decatur starting the afternoon of July 10.

The City hopes to achieve the comprehensive use of masks and facial coverings through voluntary compliance. Complimentary masks will be provided to individuals who need them, along with an explanation of the critical need for masks to be worn during the pandemic. Verbal and written warnings will be given as necessary.  However, there are civil penalties provided for in the ordinance, starting at limits of $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second offense and $100 for the third and successive offenses.

This is a summary of the ordinance’s requirements:

Except for limited exceptions, all persons entering a business, a store or a non-profit that provides goods or services must wear a mask or facial covering while inside the establishment. All such establishments must require their employees to wear a mask or facial covering at all times while having face-to-face interaction with the public.

Typical places where masks are required are:

• Restaurants, including indoor and outdoor dining areas.
• Retail shops and stores, grocery and drug stores
• Auto dealerships and repair shops, furniture and department stores.
• Banks, credit unions, and other financial establishments.
• Barbershops, beauty shops, spas, studios and gyms, cleaners and laundromats.
• Convenience stores, service stations, amusement and entertainment establishments.
• Lobbies and common areas of commercial, retail and office buildings.
• Lobbies and common areas of public buildings and structures.

Exceptions include the following:

• In personal vehicles.
• By children under the age of 10.
• 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 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.

Though not required for religious establishments, the use of masks and facial coverings is highly recommended during religious activities.

Consistent with other cities’ approach, the Decatur ordinance does not require the wearing of masks or facial coverings in all outdoor public places.  However, all are strongly encouraged to wear a mask in outdoor environments throughout the City where adequate social distancing cannot be maintained (i.e., at least six feet away from others not in the same household).