The City of Pasadena declared a Local State of Emergency on March 16, 2020. The actions taken by the City and local public health authorities are necessary and important. That said, our business community is feeling the pain now, and we want to do everything we can to help.
Compiled below are resources available from the city, state, and federal partners. Please check back often for updates, as they will be posted on this page, and subscribe to the COVID-19 Business Newsletter for the latest information.
COVID-19 Business Links
General Guidance for BusinessGeneral Guidance for Retail Food EstablishmentsGeneral Guidance for Indoor Gyms & Fitness StudiosShop & Dine Local PasadenaCOVID-19 Business Toolkit SignageRapid Reopening Permit & Plan Check Application PortalSign Up For Dine Pasadena Takeout DirectorySign Up for Shop Pasadena Retail DirectoryGuidance for Verifying Proof of VaccinationGuidance for Verifying Proof of Negative COVID-19 TestShop, Dine & Connect Pasadena Business Directories
The City of Pasadena and the Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a directory of Pasadena restaurants, cafes and bakeries offering takeout and delivery. For more information, click here.
To be included in the city’s director of restaurants offering takeout/delivery services, please sign up here: http://www.cityofpasadena.net/restaurant-signup
The City of Pasadena and the Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a directory of Pasadena’s small and independent retailers offering curbside pickup. For more information, click here: https://www.visitpasadena.com/covid-19-resources/retail-pickup/
To be included in the city’s directory of small and independent retailers, please sign-up here: http://www.cityofpasadena.net/retail-directory-signup
The City of Pasadena and the Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a directory of FREE virtual content from Pasadena’s businesses, museums, educational institutions, and non-profits. For more information, click here. https://www.visitpasadena.com/covid-19-resources/virtual-activities/
To be included in the city’s directory of free virtual content, please sign-up here: http://www.cityofpasadena.net/virtual-connect
City Business Resources - Guidance & Support
Please check periodically for information and updates for restaurants operating outdoors during COVID-19. Please click on the PDF for more information.
The City previously adopted a supplement to its declaration of local emergency which temporarily placed a cap on the amount of fees charged to restaurants by third party delivery services. Through this action, it was unlawful for a third-party delivery service platform to charge restaurants any combination of fees, commissions or costs, including a delivery fee that totals more than twenty percent of the purchase price of an online order. That temporary cap terminates 90 days after restaurants are allowed to offer dine-in service without restrictions. Barring further developments, after September 13, 2021, third party delivery services will not be bound by the City's Temporary Third Party Delivery Cap.
As California has made significant progress in vaccinating individuals and reducing community transmission, the State of California terminated Safer At Home Orders and the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The lifting of capacity restrictions signals a new day for businesses in California. The Pasadena Public Health Officer has updated the City’s Health Order to comply with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for use of face coverings and select public health protocols. The updated Pasadena Public Health Order outlines the instances when masks are still required and urges the public to exercise caution and to get vaccinated. To find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic location in Pasadena, visit the City's COVID-19 vaccine page.
The Pasadena Public Health Department has provided a helpful guide with common sense measures for businesses and employers to reduce the further risk of COVID-19.
Businesses may print their own storefront signage to remind customers of physical distancing, mask requirements, and other common sense measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
The State of California's Department of Alcohol Beverage Control is temporarily suspending enforcement of specific legal prohibitions of the code. Restaurants with a license to sell alcohol with food can now sell it for off-site consumption, and local requirements regarding off-site sales would not apply. For more information, click here.
The expedited permits and plan check processes are now available through an online application portal. Through the portal, qualified restaurant and retail businesses can apply for express plan checks for structural and non-structural tenant improvements, administrative conditional use permits for alcohol sales, expedited design reviews for qualified retail and restaurants, and temporary outdoor dining permits.
Available Resources
Business Resilience
State of California Business Relief
The State of California offers a variety of relief programs to support small businesses during the Pandemic. Programs include:
- Tax Relief, including deferrals and credits
- California Small Business Relief Grant (A grant program administered by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate). Sign up to be notified when the grant program launches again.
- E-Commerce trainings to assist small businesses set-up online marketplaces.
For more information, visit the State of California COVID-19 Business Page.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
COVID-19 relief options
The Small Business Administration offers relief options to help businesses, non-profits and faith-based organizations recover from the impacts of COVID-19. All SBA relief options can be found at COVID-19 relief options (sba.gov).
As of July 2021, the SBA is currently offering the following funding options:
- COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
- SBA debt relief (for existing borrowers)
- Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG)
SBA is contacting eligible businesses regarding:
SBA previously offered the following funding options:
- Paycheck Protection Program loans. Existing borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness.
- Restaurant Revitalization Fund
- Express Bridge loans
Small Business Finance Center
The Small Business Finance Center (SBFC) has a loan guarantee program designed for Disaster Relief and is currently available to small businesses needing assistance to overcome economic injury cause by COVID-19. The Small Business Development Corporation will work directly with lenders to underwrte the loan, which the SBFC guarantees (upon approval). More info about loan programs can be found here.
The Southern California Small Business Development Corporation that services the Pasadena area for SBFC loans is:
Kurt Chilcott, President & CEO
2825 Dewey Road
Building 202, Suite 205
San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 232-7771
Fax: (619) 232-6743
Email: kchilcott@cdcloans.com
Tenant Protection
The Pasadena City Council held a special meeting on March 17, 2020, to ratify the recent Local State of Emergency Declaration, and consider relief measures to reduce the economic impacts on residents and businesses. Through this action, the City Council established a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent by tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information regarding the Declaration of Local Emergency, including the Second Supplement establishing a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent for commercial tenants, please click here.
Property Tax Information
Under California State Law, the County of Los Angeles Treasurer & Tax Collector is not able to extend the April 10 property tax deadline. However, beginning on April 11, the day after property taxes are due, people unable to pay on time for reasons related to COVID-19 may submit a request for penalty cancellation online. The department has set up a special team to process these requests for those who demonstrate they were affected by the outbreak.
For more information, call the County of Los Angeles Treasurer & Tax Collector at 213-974-2111, or visit their website, ttc.lacounty.gov.
Please note that call volumes may be heavy. Please check the attached PDF’s for frequently asked questions.
Information for Employers
For Employers: How To Prevent COVID in the Workplace
- The SBDC, hosted by Pasadena City College, is a resource for businesses that need assistance navigating business impacts from the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The SBDC offers Virtual Business Consulting - always at no cost. To schedule a virtual consultation, call 1-866-588-SBDC (7232). Get help with applying for relief, guiding you through available resources, cash flow concerns, supply chain interruptions, workforce capacity, insurance coverage and more.
- The Foothill Workforce Development Board offers solutions to help companies avoid laying off employees in times of economic downturn or business hardship. Call (626) 796-5627 to schedule an appointment or for more information click here.
- The State Employment Development Department (EDD) has a dedicated webpage for employer issues related to COVID-19. Info for employers includes: tax assistance, potential closure or layoffs, and workplace health & safety.
- EDD Tax Assistance - Employers experiencing a hardship as a result of COVID-19 may request up to a 60-day extension of time from the EDD to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. Call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center 1-888-745-3886 (toll-free).
- While The State of California retired most industry-specific guidance, all employers are still responsible for maintaining safe, low-risk environments for employees and customers. To view the State’s Workplace Safety Standards, click here.
Information for Employees
- The Foothill Workforce Development Board offers assistance for job seekers to access pathways and services leading to quality jobs. Call (626) 796-5627 to schedule an appointment or for more information click here.
- The State Employment Development Department (EDD) has a dedicated webpage for worker issues related to COVID-19. Info for workers includes: unemployment & disability insurance, paid family leave, reduced work hours, etc.
- The State of California’s COVID-19 website outlines benefits available to workers impacted by COVID-19. For more information, click here.
- OnwardCA is a one-stop resource for the people of California impacted by COVID-19. Whether you need help to get money or groceries or child care; help you upskill, or refresh, or land a new job, Onward CA is a new platform to help displaced workers. For more information, click here.