Phase 2 Easing Restrictions Begins Today, 5/22/20 at 5pm

On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 141. This executive order begins easing restrictions on travel, business regulations, and mass gatherings. Executive Order 141 increases the amount of people allowed at outdoor mass gatherings from 10 persons to 25, but keeps the cap at 10 persons in one place indoors. For other specific changes, please review the Governor's order linked above, or review the Frequently Asked Questions found at this link. 

Buncombe County has aligned itself more closely with Governor Cooper's order, but did issue a superseding state of emergency declaration at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2020. This superseding declaration requires face coverings for any person 12 years of age or older when inside any public restaurant, retail, or commercial establishment. The superseding declaration SPECIFICALLY exempts the Town of Biltmore Forest, Town of Black Mountain, Town of Montreat, and Town of Woodfin from this order. This supserseding declaration is only applicable to the City of Asheville and other unincorporated parts of Buncombe County. For additional information, please check Buncombe County's website at this link or read the superseding declaration here.