As the US has taken measures to prevent the virus from spreading, the government had to decide what businesses can be categorized as essential, and which are non-essential businesses. In times of crisis and the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, construction is deemed as essential. However, there is no universal federal ruling on the essentiality of construction. That is how some states decided to take matters into their own hands. Some of these states are ruling construction in general as non-essential (with the exempt for some types of projects such as housing), which is affecting construction firms in general.
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Is Construction Essential in the US?
As David Alvarado, an attorney at LA offices of commercial real estate law firm Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson, cited, the mixture of different rulings based on individual decisions of different US states, counties, and cities, is creating a problematic scenario for construction. Construction is an essential service as Alvarado reminds, which is why it is important to agree on the matter of its essentiality. While some states are imposing a definitive moratorium for construction sites, other states consider construction to be essential even in times of crisis such as the Coronavirus pandemics.
Can a Universal Federal Ruling on the Matter of Construction Make Things Better for the Industry?
There might be a universal federal ruling brought on the matter of construction and its importance to the US economy. However, the number of infected patients is higher in some areas, which is why some extra measures need to be taken to prevent further spreading. Seattle, for example, allows only essential construction to continue as the number of infected has gone over 1,500. As the number of infected is rising, the most impacted areas are struggling to address new measures of precaution and prevention. That is how it remains unclear whether all federal states can agree on the matter of essentiality of construction in times of pandemics.
