Home Depot, Lowe's In California To Require Masks At Stores

CULVER CITY, CA — Home Depot and Lowe's are joining a number of companies requiring shoppers to wear masks.

The companies announced Friday on their websites that face coverings or masks are now required inside all Lowe's locations starting Monday and Home Depot stores beginning Wednesday.

Small children or anyone with a valid medical condition is not required to wear a mask, Home Depot said.

The company estimates about 85 percent of stores already require facial masks and follow local and state regulations. All Home Depot employees are also required to wear masks inside stores, distribution centers and other company locations.

“We appreciate all of our associates who have been working so hard to serve our customers with the essential products they need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we want to thank our customers for their cooperation as we work to protect everyone in our stores,” Ann-Marie Campbell, executive vice president of stores for The Home Depot, said in a news release.

Lowe's has also required store employees to wear masks and has required customers to wear them where local or state officials have required.

"As a retailer offering essential goods, we have a responsibility to our associates, customers and small businesses in communities nationwide to help provide a safe shopping experience," Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's president and CEO, said in a news release. "Throughout this pandemic, our associates have worked tirelessly so customers could get the goods and services they needed for their homes and small businesses. For the safety of everyone in our stores, we ask that customers wear masks; and to make this new standard less restrictive, we will make masks available to those who need them."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wear face coverings or masks to prevent spreading the coronavirus.

Home Depot, Lowe's and Walmart join a growing list of retailers issuing blanket policies requiring mask use by customers.

Starting Monday, Walmart and Sam's Club require shoppers to wear masks.

Last week, Best Buy announced it would start requiring masks in all stores. A similar mandate went into effect at Starbucks on Wednesday, and Costco has required masks since May.

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