California releases new guidance for real estate transactions

The California Departments of Public Health and Industry Relations have released Industry Guidance for Real Estate Transactions. This document provides guidance for businesses operating in the real estate industry including sales and rentals of single-family, multi-family, apartment, commercial, and industrial properties to support a safe, clean environment for workers.

The guidance envisions that as California enters Stage 2 of the “Resilience Roadmap” and begins to gradually reopen lower-risk workplaces, agents who show properties will adhere to policies designed to curb the spread of COVID-19. The document includes specific guidance with respect to drawing up specific plans for showing properties, cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and physical distancing guidelines.

The state has also released a checklist to help real estate professionals implement their plans, which can be found here.

C.A.R. is reviewing these new documents and working to update our Best Practices Guidelines accordingly. Please note that this guidance does not supersede stricter local or county orders that may still place restrictions on real estate activity.