Statewide Stay-At-Home: Is Your Business “Essential”?

Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 121 on March 27, 2020 which required, among other things, the closing of all nonessential businesses and operations for thirty days from March 30th, 2020.

If your business is excluded from the list of essential businesses and operations under Executive Order 121, yet you believe it is essential to the State, you may submit a request to the North Carolina Department of Revenue to be considered essential. The online request may be found here. Or, you may email your request to Essential.Exemption@ncdor.gov. Included in your email should be the following:

  • Legal Name 
  • Doing Business As (D/B/A, if applicable) 
  • Sales and Use Tax Registration Number (if applicable) 
  • Address
  • Name of Contact Person
  • Email Address 
  • Phone Number 
  • Website 
  • Description of Business
  • Justification: Please provide a brief explanation of why your business should be designated as essential. 

Please note – all information submitted is subject to North Carolina public records laws.

Should you have any questions related to this process or other North Carolina-based relief efforts, please contact Fred Parker.