COVID-19 State Mask Mandates

Across the country, Governors and local officials have been trying to slow the spread of COVID-19 by implementing a number of safety measures. As of July 23, over half of the states in the country have either required or recommended facial coverings to be worn in public areas. Below is a list of states which have implemented a face mask recommendation or requirement.

Last updated August 4, 2020

Alabama- Requirement

Effective on July 16, 2020, each person age 7 and older must wear a facial covering that covers the nostrils and mouth at all times within six feet of a person from another household in the following places: an indoor space open to the public, a vehicle operated by a transportation service, or an outdoor public space where 10 or more people are gathered. However, there is an exception for essential job functions:

  • Any first responder
  • Any person performing a job function if wearing a facemask is inconsistent with industry standards or business’ established safety protocols.

Alaska- Recommendation

While not a requirement, Alaska has recommended that people wear a cloth face cover when they are around others, whether it is a grocery store, or at work.


Arizona- Requirement

The state of Arizona has no official mask mandate, however many local municipalities, including Phoenix have issued a mask mandate. However, the state has required masks for customers and employees of barbershops, salons, and cosmetologists. Additionally, employers of employees where service can’t be provided at a safe distance should provide those employees with masks, and require that the employee wears them.

Arkansas- Requirement

Every person over age 9 must wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in all indoor environments where they are exposed to non-household members and distancing of 6 feet or more cannot be assured, and in all outdoor settings where there is exposure to non-household members unless ample space exists to practice physical distancing. State order…


California- Requirement

Individuals must wear masks in several specified high-risk situations, including when engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when (1) interacting in-person with any member of the public; (2) working in any space visited by members of the public, regardless of whether anyone from the public is present at the time; (3) working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others; (4) working in or walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities; (5) in any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present when unable to physically distance.

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Colorado- Requirement

Employees of critical businesses and mass transportation who interact in close proximity with other employees or with the public must: (1) wear medical or non-medical cloth face coverings that cover the nose and mouth while working, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health; and (2) wear gloves, as appropriate by industry standards, when in physical contact with customers or goods if gloves are provided to workers by their employer.

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Connecticut- Requirement

Effective April 20, 2020, the following employees must wear face coverings:

Essential employees should use masks or cloth face coverings. Restaurant employees and customers must wear face coverings. Employers must provide face coverings for employees.

Retail employees and customers must wear face coverings. Employers must provide face coverings for employees.

Office-based businesses must require employees to wear employer-provided face coverings.

Personal care services employees and patrons must wear face coverings.

Employers must provide face coverings for employees. 

Delaware- Requirement


Employers starting May 1, 2020, must provide employees with a face covering to wear while working in areas open to the general public and areas in which coming within 6 feet of other staff is likely.  Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings as well as hand sanitizer for their employees. All employees are strongly encouraged to use personal face coverings until their employer provides a face covering.


District of Columbia- Requirement

Effective July 22- October 9, 2020, Individuals over age 2 must wear a face covering at businesses, office buildings, and other establishments open to members of the public. Employers shall provide masks to their employees. Businesses, office buildings, or other establishments shall exclude or attempt to eject persons who are not wearing masks or who remove their required masks.

Florida- Requirement

Effective on May 11, 2020, Personal care services providers and employees must wear masks, and are also encouraged to provide masks to patrons and/or adopt a policy requiring patrons to wear masks.  Additionally, all people over 2 are recommended to wear a facemask in public.

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Georgia- Requirement

In Georgia, all general public are recommended to wear face coverings in public settings. Additionally, they are required for employees of bars, restaurants, personal care services, amusement parks and carnivals, conventions, and live performance venues. Other businesses are recommended to provide PPE to employees.

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Hawaii- Requirement

As of April 24, 2020, all employees of essential or designated businesses or operations who have any contact with customers or goods to be purchased must wear the cloth face covering recommended by the CDC while at their place of employment. 

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Idaho- Recommendation

Employers should identify how personal use items such as masks, face coverings, and gloves may be required by employees, vendors, and/or patrons. Use of face coverings by the general public is strongly recommended.  

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Illinois- Requirement

All businesses must ensure that employees and visitors wear face coverings when social distancing is not possible. Employers must provide facemasks when a 6 foot distance is not able to be maintained at all times.

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Indiana- Requirement

Face coverings are required for restaurant employees and personal care services employees.

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Iowa- No Requirements or Recommendations


Kansas- Requirement

All businesses and organizations must require employees, customers, members of the public to wear face coverings when (1) employees are working in any space visited by the public, (2) when food is being prepared or packaged, (3) working or present in common areas, (4) customers or members of the public are present in the facility, and (5) in any enclosed area where others are present and are unable to maintain 6 feet distance.

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Kentucky- Requirement

Businesses must provide PPE to employees and ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that their employees wear a cloth mask. A business need not require an employee to wear a mask when masking would create a serious health or safety hazard to the employee or when the employee is working alone in an enclosed space. Businesses must ensure that employees whose job duties include touching items often touched by others (e.g., credit cards/cash, paper, computers) wear gloves that are regularly replaced.

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Louisiana- Requirement

All employees of a business who have contact with the public must wear a mask. All restaurant employees must wear masks and should wear gloves.  All businesses and organizations must require all persons entering the premises to wear face coverings unless located in a parish that has opted out (those with fewer than 100 new cases per 100K people in the previous 2 weeks may opt out of the requirement).

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Maine- Requirement

The following businesses must require face coverings to be worn: retail stores with more than 50,000 square feet of shopping space, restaurants, outdoor bars or tasting rooms, and lodging establishments in Hancock, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Cumberland, and York Counties, and in the cities of Bangor, Brewer, Lewiston, Auburn, and Augusta.

Retail employees must wear face coverings.

Restaurant employees must wear face coverings.

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Maryland- Requirement

All retail establishments shall require staff to wear, and those staff shall wear, face coverings while working in areas open to the public and areas in which interactions with other staff are likely.

All food service establishments shall require staff who interact with customers (including, without limitation, delivery personnel) to wear, and those staff shall wear, face coverings while working.

Employees and customers of personal care services must wear face coverings.

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Massachusetts- Requirement

Residents over age 2 must wear face coverings in public settings, including in essential businesses and on public transportation. The requirement applies to both customers and employees of essential businesses. If a customer refuses to wear a face covering for non-medical reasons, the business may decline entry.

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Michigan- Requirement

All businesses and operations whose workers perform in-person work must, at a minimum, provide non-medical grade face coverings to their workers, as well as gloves, goggles, face shields as appropriate for the activity being performed.

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Minnesota- Requirement

As of July 24, 2020, Businesses must require that all persons, including their workers, customers, and visitors, wear face coverings, and when possible, provide accommodations for people who cannot due to a medical condition or disability.

Workers must also wear face coverings outdoors when it is not possible to maintain social distancing. Workers must also comply with any applicable industry guidance, such as a requirement to use face shields.

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Mississippi- Requirement

Required for all businesses in Claiborne, De Soto, Grenada, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Quitman, Rankin, Sunflower, Washington, and Wayne Counties. Face coverings shall be worn by all employees based on their duties and responsibilities. Patrons and customers must also wear face coverings. Restaurants and bars reopening for dine-in service must provide cloth masks to employees who come into contact with customers and require those employees to wear the masks. “Appropriate PPE” must be worn by all restaurant and bar employees based on their duties. Personal care services employees and patrons must wear employer-provided face coverings and must also require customers to wear face coverings.

Gym and fitness center employees must wear employer-provided face coverings.

Missouri- Recommendation

People should wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

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Montana- Requirement

In counties in which there are four or more confirmed and active COVID-19 cases, and only during the time in which there are four or more active cases: all businesses or other persons responsible for indoor spaces open to the public shall require and take reasonable measures to ensure that all employees, contractors, volunteers, customers, or other members of the public wear a face covering at all times while entering or remaining in any indoor spaces open to the public. Only those employees, volunteers, and contractors in public-facing work spaces are required to wear face coverings. Employers must provide face coverings for all employees and volunteers.

For any organized outdoor activity where social distancing is not possible or is not observed, sponsors shall require and take reasonable measures to ensure that all persons attending an organized outdoor activity wear a face covering.

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Nebraska- Requirement

Personal care services (barbershops, salonsbody artmassage therapy) employees and customers must wear face coverings. Recommended for restaurant employees. Residents are recommended to wear a cloth face covering in public places where they cannot stay 6 feet away from others. Recommended for meat processing employees. It is highly recommended, as available, to provide employees in meat processing plants with procedure (surgical) masks due to the close contact they have with other employees and the liquid contact frequency in the work environment.


New Hampshire- Requirement

Retail, restaurant, golf course, and personal care services employees must wear cloth face coverings at all times when in the retail facility and in public locations or shared staff areas (e.g. break rooms), even if other individuals are not immediately present.

Employees of other essential businesses and organizations and those that are re-opening all or a portion of their operations are strongly recommended to wear a cloth face covering while at work and in potential close contact with others.

New Jersey- Requirement

Customers and employees of essential retail businesses (retail, restaurants, manufacturing, warehousing, essential construction) must wear cloth face coverings inside the business, and businesses may decline entry to customers not wearing a covering. The order specifies the requirements and exceptions. Employees must also wear gloves when in contact with customers or goods. Businesses must provide, at their expense, the face coverings and gloves for employees. Required for workers and visitors on construction sites. NJ Transit and private transit companies must require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings while on trains, buses and light rail vehicles, and passengers may be declined entry if they do not wear a covering. The order specifies the requirements and exceptions. Required for agricultural workers.


New Mexico- Requirement

All employers must provide all employees with face coverings and require they be used in the workplace. Restaurants, along with essential retail with over 50,000 sqft of building space, must require their employees to wear face coverings or masks. All essential retail businesses must require employees to wear face coverings or masks.  Individuals are required to wear face coverings while exercising. Gyms and fitness centers must require patrons to comply with the requirement.

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New York- Requirement

Employers that are essential businesses must provide, at the employer’s expense, face coverings for employees to wear when performing work that involves direct contact with customers or members of the public.

Any individual who is over age 2 and able to medically tolerate a face-covering shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain, or when not maintaining, social distance. Business owners may deny admittance to individuals who fail to comply with the directive to wear a face covering.

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North Carolina- Requirement

Restaurant, retail, construction, manufacturing, trades, agricultural, meat processing, transportation, and personal care services employees are required to wear face coverings. Customers of restaurants, retail, transportation, and personal care services must wear face coverings at the business

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North Dakota- Requirement

Required for personal care services employees.

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Ohio- Requirement

Face coverings required for employees at all times. The guidance lists exceptions.

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Oklahoma- Recommendation

Recommended to follow CDC Guidelines.

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Oregon- Requirement

A business and a person responsible for indoor and outdoor spaces open to the public must require employees, contractors, volunteers, customers and visitors to wear a mask, face shield, or face covering.  Masks, face coverings or face shields are not required when at or in a location where the employee, contractor or volunteer is not interacting with the public and at least six feet of distance can be maintained between other people. Employers must provide masks for employees and at least disposable masks for customers and visitors at no cost. These employers must develop and comply with policies and procedures that provide for accommodations and exemptions from the mask or face covering requirement. These businesses may require customers and visitors to wear face coverings.

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Pennsylvania- Requirement

Employers permitted to maintain in-person operations must provide masks for employees to wear during their time at the business, and make it a mandatory requirement to wear masks while on the work site, except to the extent an employee is using break time to eat or drink. Employers may approve masks or face coverings obtained or made by employees. Businesses, other than health care providers, that serve the public within a building or a defined area require all customers to wear masks while on premises, and deny entry to people not wearing masks, unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food, in which case the business must provide alternative methods of pick-up or delivery of such goods. Customers who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition, and children under the age of two, may enter the premises without a mask. Customers are not required to provide documentation of a medical condition. Individuals over age 2 are required to wear face coverings in indoor or outdoor locations where maintaining 6 feet distance is not possible. This includes while working at the workplace or off site, interacting with or working in a space visited by the public, where food is being packaged or prepared, and in common areas and spaces where others are present.

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Rhode Island- Requirement

Employees, customers, and visitors to essential and reopening businesses must wear face coverings

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South Carolina- Recommendation

Employees should be encouraged to wear masks or cloth face coverings, especially when in settings in which social distancing is not feasible. Cloth face coverings should be optional for employees with underlying respiratory illness, but if not worn, social distancing must be performed.

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South Dakota- Recommendation

People are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

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Tennessee- Recommendation

Employees are encouraged to wear a face covering at work.

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Texas- Requirement

Every person over age 9 shall wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when inside a commercial entity or other building or space open to the public, or when in an outdoor public space, wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household.

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Utah- Requirement

Individuals acting in the capacity of an employee of a business are required to wear a face covering when unable to maintain a distance of 6 feet from another individual.

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Vermont- Requirement

All businesses operating during the state of emergency must require employees to wear non-medical cloth face coverings over their nose and mouth when in the presence of others. In the case of retail cashiers, a translucent shield or “sneeze guard” is acceptable in lieu of a mask.

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Virginia- Requirement

Essential retail businesses must provide face coverings to employees. Required for some businesses. Retail, restaurant and other food and beverage establishments, gyms and fitness centers, and personal care services must require employees in public facing areas to wear face coverings. Personal care services must also require patrons to wear face coverings. Businesses may deny entry to patrons not wearing face coverings.

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Washington- Requirement

Businesses serving the public must require employees to wear face coverings and strictly enforce the requirement and refuse to serve patrons not wearing masks. All employers must identify PPE and cloth facial coverings in accordance with requirements on facial coverings and industry specific COVID-19 standards and provide the necessary PPE and supplies to employees.

West Virginia- Requirement

Restaurants must require all employees to wear face coverings at all times. Small businesses (10 or fewer employees) are recommended to require their employees who have contact with customers to wear a mask and gloves.

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Wisconsin- Requirement

Every individual age 5 and older must wear a face covering if indoors or in an enclosed space, other than at a private residence and others who are not members of individual’s household or living unit are present in the same room or enclosed space. Face coverings are strongly recommended in all other settings, including outdoors when it is not possible to maintain physical distancing.

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Wyoming- Requirement

Required for employees of reopening businesses. Required for personal care services employees and patrons.

Grocery store and retail personnel are recommended to follow CDC guidance regarding wearing face coverings while at work. Customers should be encouraged to wear face coverings while in the store.

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