San Benito County agencies enforcing halt to most construction projects during Shelter in Place

SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KION) San Benito County announced that several agencies will be working together to enforce a halt to most construction projects while the Shelter in Place order is in effect.

On Tuesday, the county updated its Shelter in Place order, and it includes more provisions and clarifications, some of which affect building and construction. Under the revised order, most construction projects need to stop, but some are allowed to continue. It will be enforced by the San Benito Counties Resource Management Agency, the City of Hollister and San Juan Bautista officials.

The construction projects considered essential under the Shelter in Place order are:

• Projects that are immediately needed to maintain, operate or repair essential infrastructure.
• Projects that are associated with healthcare operations. That includes creating or expanding the operations if it is directly related to coronavirus response.
• Affordable housing that is or will be income-restricted. It includes multi-unit or mixed-use developments with at least 10% income-restricted units.
• Public works projects that are specifically designated as an essential government function by the lead government agency.
• Projects that are immediately needed to give critical non-commercial services to people who are homeless, elderly, economically disadvantaged or with special needs.
• Construction needed to make sure that existing construction sites that need to be shut down are left in a safe and secure manner, but only to the extent necessary.
• Construction or repair needed to make sure that homes and buildings housing essential businesses are safe, sanitary or habitable to the extent that construction or repair cannot be delayed.

Projects that can continue will be required to include special conditions to keep workers safe at the site, sign and accept social distancing protocol and keep a stringent employee safety plan, which needs to be submitted to the San Benito County Health Officer for approval.

The county said it does not have jurisdiction over school construction, but it is considered essential.

To report suspected violations, call 831-636-4113 or email publichealthreferral@cosb.us.