In a unanimous vote, the Clark County Commission voted to adopt an emergency ordinance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ordinance requires all non-essential businesses to close, and gives Metro police the authority to enforce penalties on businesses not complying with the ordinance. The ordinance includes a list of essential and non-essential businesses.
These rules and steps for enforcement apply to businesses in Clark County, located outside of corporate city limits such as the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas. Different jurisdictions could have different courses of action.
Clark County Emergency Ordinance
BILL NO. _______________________________
SUMMARY – An emergency ordinance to amend Clark County Code by the addition of a new provision to Chapter 6.04 of the Clark County Code imposing an administrative fine for violation of an emergency order or conducting an unsafe practice.
ORDINANCE NO. ________________________________
(of Clark County, Nevada)
AN ORDINANCE to amend Clark County Code BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW provision to Chapter 6.04 of the Clark County Code imposing an administrative fine for violation of an emergency order or conducting an unsafe practice AND PROVIDING OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO.
Whereas, on March 12, 2020, the Governor of Nevada declared a state of emergency related to the COVIS-19 virus, activating the state emergency operations center, establishing an emergency team, and requesting that non-essential businesses voluntarily cease operation until April 16, 2020.
Whereas, on March 15, 2020, the Clark County Manager declared a state of emergency related to the prevention of the spread of the COVID-19 virus and related provisions; and
Whereas, on March 20, 2020, the Governor issued a directive ordering all non-essential businesses be closed until April 16, 2020 and authorizing local officials to enforce his directive and regulations promulgated thereunder;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION ONE. Clark County Code Chapter 6.04 is amended by the addition of a new provision reading as follows:
Violation of an emergency order, directive, or regulation of the Governor, Board of Commissioners, Sheriff, or County Manager during the effective dates of a declared state of emergency is an unsafe business practice which is injurious to the public health, safety, or welfare and is punishable by suspension or revocation of a business license, by imposition of an administrative penalty of up to $1000 per violation per day, or as a criminal misdemeanor.
Enforcement of citations shall proceed in the manner provided by Chapter 1 and Sections 6.04.100 through 6.04.140 of this code.
SECTION TWO. If any section of this ordinance or portion thereof is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate the remaining parts of this ordinance.
SECTION THREE. All ordinances, parts of ordinances, chapters, sections, subsections, clauses, phrases or sentences contained in the Clark County Code in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
SECTION FOUR. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force at midnight, March 20, 2020, and shall be published by title only, together with the names of the County Commissioners voting for or against its passage, in a newspaper published in and having a general circulation in Clark County, Nevada, at least once a week for a period of two (2) weeks.