How To Report Coronavirus Business Violations In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County officials are encouraging people to now contact the local jurisdiction to report possible business violations of the countywide health order during the coronavirus pandemic.

Since Marin County Public Health issued the public health order in July, reports had been handled by the county. Potential violations were distributed to the municipality where the issue took place. To streamline processing going forward, each municipality will investigate and consider issuing fines for violations taking place within its own jurisdiction limits, and the reporting of the problem will go directly to that jurisdiction.

"In order to flatten the curve in Marin, we must ensure that people are engaging in social distancing and wearing face coverings," said Angela Nicholson, assistant county administrator and director of Marin's Emergency Operations Center during the pandemic.

"Our hope is that outreach, education and warnings will deter those who are not following the business requirements. It is quicker and more efficient for each jurisdiction to follow up on its own complaints."

Fines range from $250 to $10,000 for health order violations by commercial entities. Factors determining the size of a penalty include risks to public health, previous warnings, lack of good-faith efforts to comply, and increased revenue generated from noncompliance.

Since the order was issued in July, 175 business violations have been reported to Marin's Environmental Health Services Division over the first six weeks of the enforcement order. In all, the division logged more than 500 complaints during that period, according to the county, but many were duplicates of one incident or not related to businesses.

County officials have contacted more than 100 businesses to provide education and gain compliance with the shelter-in-place order, according to the county. Only a handful of businesses have required second and third visits or fines.

The county's online form allows anyone to file a complaint about a possible business violation of the public health order in the unincorporated areas of Marin. Photos and other documentation are accepted. To file complaints within towns and cities, contact the following and include the business name, address and as much detail as possible regarding the perceived health order violation:

• Belvedere: SIPviolation@cityofbelvedere.org
• Corte Madera: SIPviolation@tcmmail.org
• Fairfax: SIPviolations@townoffairfax.org
• Larkspur: SIPviolations@cityoflarkspur.org
• Mill Valley: SIPviolations@cityofmillvalley.org
• Novato: SIPViolations@novato.org
• Ross: SIPviolation@townofross.org
• San Anselmo: SIPviolations@townofsananselmo.org
• San Rafael: SIPviolations@cityofsanrafael.org
• Sausalito: Report to the non-emergency police line at 415-289-4170
• Tiburon: SIPviolations@townoftiburon.org

"We are more than six months into this health emergency, and ending it will take a sustained team effort," said Dr. Matt Willis, the county's public health officer. "Enforcement is vital to help people be held accountable for actions that jeopardize public health and prolong the pandemic."

Citations and fines for not wearing a mask remain under the jurisdiction of law enforcement. The civil penalty for not wearing a mask can range from $25 to $500.