As we continue to adapt our lives and businesses to Covid-19, it is crucial to take the time to investigate what your state requires regarding contactless payments. For example, some states require proof to protect your consumers, while others suggest it if possible. Understanding and implementing these precautions protects your employees from the virus and protects your company from potential litigation.
Below, you can find a compiled list of more than 40 states and their current restrictions or suggestions regarding contactless payments.
Does My State Have Contactless Payment Requirements?
Before reading the regulations of your state, read the following notes:
- Note that some states have different regulations based on the county in which your business resides.
- Some only recommend a contactless payment, while others require it for businesses.
- If you cannot locate your state or county below, this means that your state government has not released any formal information about their recommendations and/or requirements.
Arizona
State-wide guidance documents provided by the Arizona government indicate that, if possible, they recommend using touchless payment to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This is to include paying without touching money, a card, or even the keypad.
California
In California, the following counties mandate that all businesses provide sufficient evidence of their execution of any and all Covid-19 mandates to any type of authority upon request. All businesses must adhere to the following requirement:
“Providing for contactless payment systems or, if not feasible to do so, the providing for disinfecting all payment portals, pens, and styluses after each use.”
- Santa Clara County
- Santa Barbara County
- Contra Costa County
- Marin County
- San Mateo County
- Sacramento County
- Sonoma County
- Lake county
- Ventura County
- Monterey County
- Napa County
- San Joaquin County
- Alameda County
In the following counties, measures are provided to prevent any unnecessary contact, which include “Providing for contactless payment systems or, if not feasible, sanitizing payment systems regularly.”
Colorado
According to the Tenth Amended Public Health Order 20-28 Safer At Home And In The Vast, Great Outdoors, all Colorado businesses are encouraged to “Provide contactless options, such as entry to the worksite, payments, etc., whenever applicable and possible.”
Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas Counties issued specific guidelines for companies providing curbside services, requiring them to “Provide contactless payment systems or if exchanging paper/coin money:“
- Do not touch your face afterward.
- Ask customers to place cash on a tray rather than directly into your hand.
- Sanitize payment systems and trays after each customer.
Georgia
Governor Kemp added the following guidelines to merchants, advising them to “Use technological solutions to reduce person-to-person interaction: mobile ordering, mobile access to menus to plan, text on arrival for seating, and contactless payment options.”
Mississippi
Through an executive order by the governor, the state of Mississippi encourages, “The use of technology solutions to minimize person-to-person contact is encouraged, including…contactless payment options.”
Nevada
The Nevada Department of Public Safety issued the following guidance, stating that businesses “must adopt COVID-19 risk mitigation policies, including contactless payment systems.”
New York
The New York department of health encourages the following guidelines for payment options:
- “Responsible Parties should encourage customers to use touchless payment options or pay ahead. Minimize handling cash, credit cards, reward cards, and mobile devices, where possible.”
- “For retail activities involving the handling of shared objects (e.g. payment devices), areas (e.g. pickup area), or surfaces (e.g. doors), Responsible Parties must ensure that such areas and objects are cleaned daily, at a minimum.”
North Dakota
According to North Dakota’s standards for all industries, they advise businesses to “Provide contactless payment systems” as a preferred method.
Oregon
Oregon state health authority issued guidance advising employers to “consider touchless payment methods.” As an avenue to protect Oregon residents from Covid-19.
Tennessee
A document released by the Tennessee government, called the Tennessee pledge document, recommends businesses to “utilize cashless or contactless payment methods where possible.”
Texas
Governor Abbott of Texas reported the following guidelines in Texans Helping Texans stating, “Contactless payment is encouraged. Where not available, contact should be minimized.”
Utah
Utah released guidelines for businesses and the general public to encourage “contactless and non-signature payment” processing whenever possible.
Washington
The Washington state government released the following In-Store Retail Operations COVID-19 Requirements to require retail stores and other businesses to “Arrange contactless pay options, pickup, and/or delivery of goods wherever possible.”
Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, the Safety Standards and Checklist: say that “contactless payment methods are encouraged.”
Wyoming
The Wyoming COVID-19: Guidance for Restaurants from the Wyoming Department of Health released the following guidelines. “Establishments must encourage contactless and non-signature payment methods.”
- If not possible for all customers, card and payment stations must be sanitized after each use.
- Staff must sanitize hands between handling payment options
Illinois
In the state of Illinois, the Social Distancing: Restaurants and 3rd Party Delivery Services guidelines were released to “set up a contactless option for deliveries (in-app payment and tipping).”
New Jersey
The Governor of New Jersey, Murphy, signed an executive order to implement additional mitigation and requirements to limit the spread of COVID-19. These requirements were to “arrange for contactless pay options across all modes of transportation wherever feasible. Where possible, such policies shall consider populations that do not have access to internet service.”
Virginia
The New Jersey Division of Affairs suggests that businesses and offices should “arrange for contactless patient registration and payment options. Disinfect pens and credit cards after each use in accordance with CDC guidelines if pens and credit cards are utilized.”
Maine
In Maine, the COVID19 Prevention Checklist was created to guide businesses to “promote “Contactless” payment options:
- Online shopping
- Contactless payment options (e.g., RFID credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.)
- Self-checkout
- Pickup and delivery services
Delaware
The Delaware government designed a DELAWARE’S REOPENING plan outlining guidelines for contactless payments. “Contactless payment merchandise should be maximized; disinfect between transactions and comply with other retail recommendations”
New Mexico
In the ALL TOGETHER NEW MEXICO document, the state government refers to “best practices arrange for contactless payment and receipt options to the greatest extent possible” as an avenue for businesses to defend against Covid-19.
Arkansas
The Arkansas Department of Health released required revisions for businesses and retail businesses to encourage them to “provide contactless payment systems or provide for the disinfection of all payment portals, pens, and styluses after each use.”
Rhode Island
In a recent press release, the Rhode Island government encourages “cashless and contactless payment methods.”
Minnesota
The Minnesota state government provided the following Industry Guidance for Safely Reopening: Restaurants and Bars, advising businesses that “contactless payment should be used whenever possible. Utilize an electronic fund-transfer service or credit-card payment method that allows the client or customer to initiate and complete the payment transaction remotely fully, or while separated from the worker.”
South Carolina
According to the Guidelines for reopening our hospitality industry in South Carolina, the “use technology solutions where possible to reduce person-to-person interaction, mobile and menu tablets, test on arrival for seating and contactless payment options.”
Contactless Payment | PayFrog
At PayFrog, providing credit card services allows us to assist businesses in staying open and acting efficiently to minimize the impact of the coronavirus. We truly believe that small and large businesses need all of the assistance they can get through these trying times, therefore, we want to provide affordable contactless payment services that will allow all businesses to comply with their state’s rules and regulations. Although not all states require contactless payment services, we believe that it is an easy precaution to take. Additionally, this technology is becoming more common each year. If you are interested in implementing a contactless payment service, contact or call PayFrog today!
Read: The Benefits of Contactless Payments
