Business Reopening Complaint

Business Reopening Complaint
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    • Outdoor Dining Complaint to report a restaurant's outdoor dining structure blocking a street or sidewalk, with missing or defective barriers, ramps, or platforms, not accessible for people with disabilities, or missing a permit

    Effective June 15, 2021, the State's health guidance and New York Forward industry specific guidelines—including social gathering limits, capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracing—are now lifted for most businesses and other commercial settings, including: 

    • Retail
    • Restaurants, bars and other food services
    • Offices
    • Gyms and fitness centers
    • Amusement and family entertainment
    • Hair salons, barber shops and other personal care services
    • Small-scale indoor event venues (under 5,000 capacity)

    Businesses are free to choose to continue to adhere to the State's archived guidance, or implement other health precautions for their employees and customers. Businesses are also allowed to require masks and six feet of social distancing for employees and customers within their establishments, regardless of vaccination status. 

    Complaints are not accepted for: 

    • Businesses that require customers to wear a mask 
    • Businesses listed above that define their own health and safety guidelines 

    However, indoor event venues with capacity of 5,000 to 9,999, health care and medical facilities, and City offices and buildings must still follow existing COVID-19 health and safety rules. You can report health and safety violations at these types of businesses. 

    What You Need

    An exact address and business name are required to file a complaint. If you would like to report more than one business, you must file a complaint for each business/location. 

    Report health and safety violations at a:

    The content action "Health Care or Medical Facility" does not have a problem type that is supported by a service request form.

    The content action "Indoor Event Venue with 5,000 to 9,999 Capacity" does not have a problem type that is supported by a service request form.

    According to NY State Department of Health guidelines, indoor event venues with 5,000 to 9,999 capacity and health care and medical facilities are required to follow specific guidelines, including:

    • Post a safety plan where everyone can see it
    • Give employees free face coverings and proper protective equipment and provide replacements
    • Provide and maintain hand hygiene stations that include soap, water, and paper towels, and/or contact-free hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
    • Train employees on hygiene and safety practices
    • Conduct employee health screenings every day and make sure sick employees go home
    • Ensure frequent cleaning and disinfecting of any shared surfaces
    • Post signs and put tape or other markers to show people where to stand
    • Reduce occupancy to under 50% and limit confined spaces to 1 person (elevators, behind cash registers, etc.)
    • Limit all in-person gatherings and meetings, and only hold them in large, well-ventilated areas with social distancing

    You can report a City office or building not in compliance with health and safety guidelines.

    Call 311 for assistance.

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