As the coronavirus continues to sweep across the country, the Department of Homeland Security has deemed certain businesses essential, thus allowing them to remain open. For the most part, the list is pretty straightforward and includes necessary services and stores supplying critical commodities like supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, and post offices. When it comes to construction, however, there is no clear consensus.
Recognizing that the construction industry faces unique challenges, such as the publics’ need for housing – as well as contractual, financial, and supply chain obligations – the federal government has left the states to create individual rules and requirements. The following is a summary of guidelines, by state, as well as links to more comprehensive information. We hope it helps minimize some of the negative economic impact caused by COVID-19, but more importantly, it aids in keeping you and your crew healthy and safe.
Alabama
Construction and related services are allowed to operate, this includes:
- Building and construction
- Lumber
- Hardware and building material businesses
- Skilled tradesmen
- Related construction firms
Alaska
The following services have been deemed essential:
- Critical infrastructure construction
- Public works repairs
- Home building
Arizona
Essential businesses include:
- Construction
- Hardware stores
- Construction and building trades
- Manufacturing companies
Arkansas
No stay-at-home order has been issued for the state.
California
Essential workers include:
- Construction material suppliers
- Workers who contribute to the essential operation of residences
- Workers who support the manufacturing and distribution of forest products:
- Timber
- Paper
- Wood products
Colorado
Construction may continue with the following social distancing requirements:
- Reduce the size of work crews
- Minimize interactions between work teams
- Avoid contact with visitors
- Maintain 6-foot distance between employees
- Avoid in-person meetings
- Conduct office work remotely
- Workers must not congregate during breaks
Connecticut
Essential services include:
- Construction
- All skilled trades
- All manufacturing, necessary supply chains, and related support businesses
Delaware
Essential businesses that may remain open include:
- Building construction
- Forestry
- Logging
- Wood product manufacturing
- Machinery manufacturing
- Furniture and related product manufacturing
Florida
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Georgia
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Hawaii
Essential businesses include:
- Hardware stores
- Building and construction tradesmen
- Businesses that make products used by essential businesses and operations
Idaho
Essential businesses and services include:
- Commercial construction companies
- Public works construction
- Housing construction
- Hardware stores
Illinois
Individuals may leave their residence to provide any services or perform any work necessary to offer, provision, operate, maintain and repair Essential Infrastructure. Essential Infrastructure includes construction required in response to this public health emergency:
- Hospital construction
- Construction of long-term care facilities
- Public works construction
- Housing construction
- Building management and maintenance
Indiana
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Iowa
No stay-at-home order has been issued for the state though they are, currently, following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Kansas
The state has established guidelines for determining which businesses are essential based on the Kansas Essential Functions Framework.
Kentucky
The following have been deemed essential:
- All businesses operating in the federal critical infrastructure sectors as defined by CISA
- Businesses providing construction or maintenance of residential, commercial, or governmental structures
Louisiana
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Maine
Essential services include:
- Industrial Manufacturing
- Construction and Maintenance of Essential Infrastructure
- Forest Products
Maryland
Critical manufacturing makes the following businesses essential:
- Building and property maintenance
- Residential and commercial construction
Massachusetts
Under critical manufacturing, housing construction is considered essential.
Michigan
Though construction is not expressly cited, under the Food and Agriculture category the term critical infrastructure deems workers who support the manufacturing and distribution of forest products essential, these include:
- Timber
- Paper
- Other wood products
The mandate includes this disclaimer: The order must be construed broadly to prohibit in-person work that is not necessary to sustain or protect life.
Minnesota
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Mississippi
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Missouri
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Montana
Essential workers include building and construction tradesmen.
Nebraska
No stay-at-home order has been issued for the state however, they have recommended limits on mass public gatherings to less than 50 people. No formal restrictions for manufacturers or construction.
Nevada
The following businesses have been deemed essential:
- Construction
- Home building
- Hardware centers
- Home improvement centers
- Manufacturing
New Hampshire
Under Food and Agriculture manufacturing, the following have been deemed essential:
- Wood product manufacturing
- Infrastructure construction and restoration
New Jersey
Manufacturing and construction businesses have been deemed essential and are allowed to remain open but are urged to limit on-site staff.
New Mexico
The governor issued a shelter-in-place order closing all non-essential businesses, with an exemption for construction and manufacturing.
New York
The following businesses have been deemed essential:
- Construction
- Skilled trades
- Manufacturing
North Carolina
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
North Dakota
No stay-at-home order has been issued for the state however, bars, restaurants, and other public retail businesses have been closed. No restrictions on construction and manufacturing have been ordered.
Ohio
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Oklahoma
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines with an addendum for additional industries deemed essential including:
- Construction
- Contractors
- Heavy and civil engineering construction
- Machinery manufacturing
Oregon
Though not expressly mentioned, according to the quiz on the state’s website, construction may continue if social distancing practices are adopted and adhered to.
Pennsylvania
All construction is prohibited other than the construction of healthcare facilities and emergency repairs, although the following are considered life-sustaining businesses and may remain open:
- Forestry
- Logging
- Sawmills
- Veneer
- Plywood
- Engineered wood operations
Businesses may submit a request for exemption to see if they’re granted a waiver to business closure.
Rhode Island
The state is not focusing on whether a business is essential or non-essential; instead, they are keeping businesses open as long as they operate within these strict parameters to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
South Carolina
The state’s stay-at-home order does not specifically designate construction or manufacturing businesses as essential, nor does it label them for closure.
South Dakota
No stay-at-home order has been issued for the state though they are, currently, following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Tennessee
Most manufacturing and construction businesses have been deemed essential.
Businesses are asked to follow these steps to determine if they are considered an essential service. If not, businesses can apply for a determination by the Texas Division of Emergency Management. According to their guidelines, the following do appear to be considered essential:
- Maintaining and repairing critical infrastructure
- Construction workers
- Workers supporting crucial supply chains
- Workers enabling functions for critical infrastructure
Utah
Only parts of the state are under a stay-at-home order. Currently, no businesses have been ordered to close except in Salt Lake County. The county lists the following as essential:
- Hardware stores
- Critical construction trades
- Workers in critical infrastructure
Vermont
All construction and specialty trade contractors are prohibited other than repairs for health and safety or for critical infrastructure. Utility system construction is considered essential.
Virginia
There is no express mention of construction in the order though, the following stores can stay open if they limit customers to 10 at a time:
- Home improvement
- Hardware
- Building material
- Building supply retailers
Washington
The following businesses and workers are considered essential:
- Engineers, technicians, and associated personnel responsible for infrastructure construction and restoration
- Construction contractors
- Residential construction
West Virginia
The state lists construction as an essential industry.
Wisconsin
The state is currently following CISA essential business guidelines regarding construction and building trades.
Wyoming
Only the Wind River Reservation is under a stay-at-home order. Bars, restaurants, schools, colleges, universities, and trade schools are closed statewide. Other businesses remain open yet ban gatherings of more than 10 people.
