Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Frequently Asked Questions About Shelter in Place and COVID-19

Register for AlertSCC to get emergency notifications.

Plan your family's response to emergencies.

Monitor the latest updates and get facts and answers to frequently asked questions about novel coronavirus from these reputable sources:

• County of Santa Clara County Public Health Department
• County Coronavirus (COVID-19) Data Dashboard - The County reports numbers by Age Group and Gender, not by city.
• California Department of Public Health
• Centers for Disease Control

Shelter in Place Order - Five Languages

Shelter in Place FAQ-English
Shelter in Place FAQ-Chinese
Shelter in Place FAQ-Spanish
Shelter in Place FAQ-Vietnamese
Shelter in Place FAQ-Tagalog

Sunnyvale Senior Center Services

If you are 65 or older, or know someone who is, these resources are currently available:

• Continued meal programs, with pick-up or delivery options for those without transportation
• Grocery delivery
• Prescription pick-up and delivery
• Care management

For these services, or if you have a need not listed, email Senior Services or call at 408-730-7360.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunnyvale Community Services

Provides emergency assistance, financial assistance, referral services and food programs to families, individuals and seniors living in Sunnyvale. Call 408-738-4321 if:

• You are a resident of Sunnyvale or Alviso
• You don’t have money to buy food after paying your rent and utility bills

Local Assistance

Sunnyvale Community Services - 408-738-4321
Find out if you qualify for emergency food assistance, financial help or other benefits. (Sunnyvale residents only – referrals for other cities available)

You could qualify for help if you are:

• Off work without pay because your workplace closed due to the coronavirus
• Working less hours or have less income because of canceled events due to the coronavirus

Gather the following documentation to speed up the process:

• Verification of Job Impact:
  • Notice from employer about workplace closure or reduction in hours
  • Verification of employment in an industry that is impacted by event cancellations (catering, staffing large events, etc.)
• Verification of Loss of Income:
  • Pay stubs or bank statements showing loss of income without sick or vacation pay

Destination: Home
This agency has temporary financial assistance available to help low-income residents who have lost income and are unable to pay rent as a result of COVID-related impacts.

Emergency Eviction Moratorium
The City Council approved a temporary emergency eviction moratorium on March 31. The moratorium prohibits residential evictions as of March 12, 2020 if a tenant is unable to pay rent during the COVID-19 emergency. The tenant must show proof of hardship to their landlord and pay back all rent within 180 days after the local emergency has ended. The County of Santa Clara’s eviction moratorium extends protection to small businesses. Tenants needing assistance communicating with their landlord should contact Project Sentinel. For general questions about the eviction moratorium, contact the City's Housing Division.

• COVID-19 Residential Eviction Fact Sheet - English
• COVID-19 Residential Eviction Fact Sheet - Spanish

State Assistance

State of California Labor & Workforce Development Agency
Provides coronavirus guidance and information on reduced work hours, potential closure or layoffs, and tax assistance, and more.

State Department Employment Development Department
Workers may qualify for unemployment or disability benefits if they are impacted by COVID-19.

• Details and forms to apply for benefits
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions

Businesses with Reduced Hours or Closed

If you need to change your garbage and recycling services, or have questions about other utilities, call 408-730-7400.

Local Assistance

Supporting Sunnyvale Businesses
In partnership with the Sunnyvale Downtown Association, the City is sharing information with the community on open essential businesses. If your business isn't on the list, email us.

Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is processing Economic Injury Disaster Loans to assist small businesses and non-profit agencies.

• Paycheck Protection Plan - Banks and other financial institutions processing SBA 7(a) loans are now accepting applications for this new loan program.

Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Available to small businesses (2 to 50 employees) that operate near a Facebook facility.

Loan Paperwork Preparation Help

Local resources are available to assist with loan paperwork preparation. Contact any of the following agencies for free assistance.

• Small Business Relief Fund - This fund will provide immediate support to struggling self-employed and small business owners.
• Small Business Development Center - 408-248-4800
• SCORE - 408-453-6237
• Minority Business Development Center - 408-998-8058
• AnewAmerica Women's Business Center - 408-326-2669

State and Federal Assistance

State of California Labor & Workforce Development Agency
Provides coronavirus guidance and information on reduced work hours, potential closure or layoffs, and tax assistance, and more.

Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workers from COVID-19
Workplace safety and health regulations require employers to protect employees from infectious diseases by following safety requirements. Find the safety requirements for your business.

CDC Resources for Businesses and Employers
Guidance for businesses on how to plan, prepare and respond to the coronavirus.

Santa Clara County Food Resources Searchable Map
Type in your address to get a list of food distribution sites – food banks and free meal pickup locations for students and seniors – close to your home. Map covers Santa Clara County.

Support the many Sunnyvale restaurants and businesses that are open providing essential services.

Business listings and information

All classes, activities and events are either CANCELED or POSTPONED until further notice. Refer to the City's Calendar.

Community Services classes: Due to programming and rescheduling challenges, these are CANCELED through May 31.

Specific Event Notices:

• Gourmet Earth Day 50^th Anniversary Celebration event, April 18, POSTPONED
• Household Hazardous Waste event, April 18, CANCELED
• Evenings of Cultural Arts, Antonio Rey, April 4, CANCELED
• Hands on the Arts, May 16, CANCELED

City Council and Board and Commission Meetings

City Council meetings are being held. Board and Commission meetings through April 15 are canceled, with future meetings subject to cancellations. Check the City’s Legislative Meetings Calendar for updates.

City Hall

The City closed City Hall facilities to the public effective March 17 until further notice. We are continuing to provide essential services such as public safety and utilities.

One-Stop Permit Center: The permit counter is CLOSED. See Permit Center and Development Services for more details.

NOVA Job Center is CLOSED to the public until further notice. Visit NOVA for more information.

Sunnyvale Public Library: The Library is CLOSED and all programs CANCELED until further notice.

Community Center Facilities

All Community Center Facilities are CLOSED to the public until further ntoice, including:

• Sunnyvale Theatre
• Dance Studio
• Open Pottery and Painting Studio
• Senior Center
  • Senior Meals: The Senior Nutrition Program is providing meals on a to-go basis only. Continue to make reservations by calling 408-730-7371. Pick up pre-ordered meals from 11 a.m. to noon at the Orchard Pavilion.

Columbia Neighborhood Center

The Columbia Neighborhood Center is CLOSED to the public until further notice.

• The MayView Community Health Center will remain OPEN.

Recreation Facilities

• All facility rentals, including meeting rooms, are CANCELED until further notice.
• Sunnyvale Golf Course and Sunken Gardens Golf Course are CLOSED until further notice.
• Sunnyvale Lifetime Tennis and City pools are CLOSED until further notice.

Parks

• City parks and restroom facilities are open.
• Park playgrounds, picnic areas, and basketball and tennis courts are closed.
• All picnic reservations are canceled and no new reservations are being accepted until further notice.
• Dog parks are closed.
• The skateparks at Fair Oaks and Lakewood parks are closed.

Baylands Park is open 8 a.m. to one half hour after sunset. Fees are not collected until further notice. Keep social distancing while walking on trails and in parking lot.

Heritage Park Museum

The museum is CLOSED until further notice.

SMaRT Station^® Recycling Center

The SMaRT Station Recycling Center is CLOSED to the public and all on-site services (Buy-Back Center, self-haul disposal, compost pickup, Extra Dump Weekends, etc.) are CANCELED until further notice. Extra Dump Weekends are POSTPONED and will be rescheduled.

Regular curb-side collection of garbage and recycling materials will continue, including on-call bulky item collection for single-family homes. On-call collection appointments include up to two cubic yards of non-hazardous household goods, plus two bulky items. Residents in multi-family homes that need to dispose of bulky items due to a move may request pickup by calling 408-730-7400.

Single-family residents can leave up to two extra bags of garbage at the curb on collection day for no additional charge.

Residential and commercial cart or bin exchanges are postponed until further notice.

The SMaRT Station^® Recycling Center is CLOSED to the public and all on-site services (Buy-Back Center, self-haul disposal, compost pickup, Extra Dump Weekends, etc.) are CANCELED until further notice. Extra Dump Weekends are POSTPONED and will be rescheduled.

Businesses with Reduced Hours or Closed

If you need to change your garbage and recycling services, or have questions about other utilities, call 408-730-7400.

City Employment Opportunities:

• Job opportunities
• Job applications are still being accepted online.
• All oral and written exams are POSTPONED until further notice.
• Interviews and recruitment events are POSTPONED.

NOVA Job Center is CLOSED to the public until further notice. Visit NOVA for more information.

The Permit Center public counter is closed until further notice. This includes Public Works, Planning, Building and Fire Prevention. See below for the essential services being provided.

Building Permits

• Minor permits are available online through E-OneStop.
• Building permits for emergency repairs will be accepted at the entrance to the One-Stop Permit Center, but please try E-OneStop first. At the door, wait for a receptionist to assist you. You must provide three sets of plans and a completed Building and Fire Permit application.
• Resubmittal for existing plan checks will be accepted by appointment only.
• Non-residential building plan checks will not be received during the County of Santa Clara shelter in place order.

Building Inspections

• Inspections for specified residential and emergency repairs can be scheduled. Please be patient with possible delays. Residential projects include new construction where at least 10% of the housing units are affordable (rent restricted) and any construction or repair necessary to ensure that a residence is safe, sanitary and habitable. The safe, sanitary and habitable provision also applies to buildings containing essential businesses defined by the County.
• Inspections for non-residential construction are postponed indefinitely.

Planning Permits

The Planning Division is accepting all staff-level, public hearing and emergency tree removal applications electronically. Staff will review electronic applications remotely while the shelter in place order is in effect.

Submit completed applications to Planning:

• Attach applications as a PDF (no larger than 3 MB) or send using a file-sharing link.
• Any application that requires a face-to-face meeting or site visit cannot be considered at this time. All meetings must be possible as virtual meetings.
• Find application, fees, submittal checklists and general zoning information

Questions? Email a planner.

For more information call or email:
Building and Fire Prevention - 408-730-7444
Planning - 408-730-7440
Public Works and Engineering Services - 408-730-7415
Housing – 408-730-7250

The Utility Billing office is closed to the public. There is a payment drop box available – please do not leave cash.

Utility Customer Service is available by phone – with limited staffing – from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. For daytime service, and after-hours water and sewer emergencies, call 408-730-7400.