COVID-19 Business Resources

Government Resources

"Dine on the Deck" program begins Sept. 17

“Dine on the Deck," an initiative of the City of Del Mar and Del Mar Village Association, begins Sept. 17 for four straight Thursdays. Local residents are encouraged to bring their own tablecloths and a meal from one of Del Mar’s many eateries to enjoy at one of 16 tables on the Del Mar Civic Center courtyard, 1050 Camino del Mar. The Del Mar City Council on Sept. 8 approved Dine on the Deck as part of a package of COVID-19 business assistance initiatives.

Open full story

City Council approves business assistance measures

The City Council on Sept. 8 approved a package of additional resources designed to assist small businesses, paying extra attention to those with indoor operations severely limited by the restrictions of COVID-19 public health orders.

Open full story

Flyers reference mask requirements in Public Health Orders

As part of its education effort, the City of Del Mar has produced flyers that remind of face mask requirements contained in County of San Diego Public Health Orders. The flyers send clear message that the City of Del Mar takes public health orders very seriously so everyone can feel safe living, working and recreating in our community.

Open notice to businesses

Download a color flyer (PDF)

Download a black-and-white flyer (PDF)

Fire Department self-inspection program for Del Mar businesses

In response to social distancing requirements and to minimize exposure to COVID-19, the Del Mar Fire Department has established a self-inspection program for fire safety at places of business.

The program meets State guidelines for annual fire inspections and allows businesses to maintain continuity of inspection records for the year 2020.

Open the Business Self-Inspection Program webpage

New operating hours for City offices

Monday through Thursday
7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m (remote service only)

Starting July 10, City Hall and the Public Works Administrative Office will provide remote service to the public Monday through Thursday each week. City Hall will no longer provide remote services to the public on Fridays.

To slow the spread of COVID-19, the Del Mar Civic Center and Public Works headquarters remain closed to the public for in-person service. City staff is available by phone and email from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Open the New Operating Hours webpage

County launches Small Business Stimulus Grant Program

The County of San Diego has launched a Small Business Stimulus Grant Program to help local businesses and restaurants that suffered losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses and restaurants can apply for County grants funded by the federal CARES Act.

To qualify businesses must have:

100 or fewer employees;
Headquarters in San Diego County;
A minimum 1-year operating history as of Feb. 14, 2020; and
Documentation of financial hardship because of COVID-19.

Open the Small Business Grant Program webpage

County offering weekly briefings for businesses

The County of San Diego is hosting weekly briefings for businesses to cover rules for reopening and related matters. Participants join the meeting online or by phone for listening only. Business owners are encouraged to submit questions in advance. Online participants can ask questions using the chat feature. The hour-long meetings begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays.

Open instructions to register and participate

Open County resources for businesses and employers

Council approves urgency ordinance for A-frame signs

The City Council on June 1 adopted an urgency ordinance to streamline the placement of temporary A-frame signage within the public right-of-way in commercial zones. Under the ordinance, any business without an approved A-frame sign can request an administrative approval. Businesses with approved A-frame signs can request permission to move them onto the public right-of-way. The urgency ordinance is effective immediately and expires Oct. 6.

Open the staff report

$10,000 approved for business grants

As Del Mar moves toward economic recovery, business owners are encouraged to take advantage of temporary tools to assist reopening – and boost sales -- at their restaurants and stores.

The City Council on June 1 approved setting aside $10,000 for grants of up to $500 each to assist businesses in their reopening. The grants offset the cost of sidewalk café permits and permits for temporary outdoor service and sales.

The funding source is the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Open the June 1 COVID-19 Response Efforts staff report (PDF)

Reopening a business? Take advantage of temporary tools

As Del Mar moves toward economic recovery, business owners are encouraged to take advantage of temporary tools to assist reopening – and boost sales -- at restaurants and stores. The City has approved temporary allowances for:

Curbside or drive-through service;
Outdoor service and sales;
Sidewalk café permits;
Increased signage; and
Mobile vending.

Every business is different, especially in a unique city like Del Mar. To address individual circumstances, City staff members can work one-on-one with business owners and managers. Contact the Planning and Community Development Department: planning@delmar.ca.us

Open a May 21 City of Del Mar letter to restaurant owners and managers (PDF)

Council approves business support as State approves in-person dining, shopping

The City Council approved initiatives to support local businesses May 18, ahead of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement May 20 that restaurants and stores could open for limited, in-person dining and shopping.

To help restaurants and retailers affected by COVID-19, the council approved:

- Forwarding $25,000 of assumed transient occupancy tax revenue to Del Mar Village Association to promote economic development;
- Posting placards in downtown Del Mar reminding the public of social distancing protocols;
- Posting temporary signs to convert a number of two-hour parking spaces to 20-minute spaces to facilitate businesses running curbside pickup operations; and
- Preparing an urgency ordinance to streamline permitting to allow placement of A-frame commercial signage in the public right-of-way.

Del Mar adopts moratorium on commercial evictions

The City Council voted unanimously April 6 to establish a temporary moratorium on evictions of commercial tenants for non-payment because of income losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The urgency ordinance is effective immediately and will remain in place through May 31, until Gov. Gavin Newsom withdraws the statewide stay-at-home order, or whichever occurs first. If needed, the Council can extend the duration of the urgency ordinance.

Aimed to assist business owners, the moratorium in Del Mar is modeled after Newsom’s March 27 executive order prohibiting evictions of residential tenants.

Nothing in Del Mar’s ordinance would prevent a tenant who is able to pay all or some of the rent due from paying that rent in a timely manner or relieve a tenant of liability for unpaid rent after the expiration of the ordinance.

During the moratorium, tenants are encouraged to discuss with their landlords the impacts of COVID-19 on their income, explore outside assistance programs, and negotiate a reasonable payment plan.

Open the Urgency Ordinance (PDF)

Del Mar relaxes signage rules to assist businesses

Del Mar is allowing businesses to increase the size and extend the duration of temporary commercial signage in an effort to support merchants and reduce potential vacancies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 6, the City Council unanimously approved an urgency ordinance to allow temporary commercial signs of up to 32 square feet in all commercial zones, including the Del Mar Plaza and L’Auberge Del Mar.

The signage can be displayed for the duration of the urgency ordinance, which is effective immediately and set to expire Oct. 6, 2020.

Existing rules allow for temporary commercial signs of up to six square feet to be displayed for up to 60 days annually without a permit. The 60-day allowance would re-commence at the conclusion of the urgency ordinance; temporary signs displayed during the term of the urgency ordinance would not count against the 60-day annual limit.

Temporary signage can be posted without City permits but may not be placed within the public right-of-way. All A-frame signs must continue to comply with the City’s sign code.

Open the Urgency Ordinance for Temporary Signage (PDF)

Free permitting for businesses to offer carry-out goods

The City of Del Mar is issuing free Temporary Use Permits to any restaurant or retail-related business that wishes to sell food, beverages or other goods to the public in a drive-through or carry-out manner.

The Temporary Use Permit will remain valid during the Local Emergency proclaimed by the City Council March 14, 2020,or until by further restrictions are imposed by the County or State.

Download a Temporary Use Permit application (PDF): https://www.delmar.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/3829/Temporary-Use-Permit-Checklist-PDF

Fees will not be required. Email completed forms and direct questions to Adriana Jaramishian: 858-755-9313 or ajaramishian@delmar.ca.us