At the end of August, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney was in a bit of hot water after a photo surfaced of him dining indoors at a restaurant in Maryland. Many of his constituents were not pleased that the Mayor was dining indoors in Maryland, while indoor dining was prohibited in Philly (indoor dining resumed in the city on 9/8).
Whether Mayor Kenney’s actions were appropriate or not, this is a reminder that restaurants across the nation find themselves in different stages of reopening. And so, with that in mind, let’s run down the current status of restaurants in Ward Law states:
Pennsylvania
Statewide
- Outdoor Dining-Open
- If no fire code maximum capacity, 25 people per 1,000 square feet is allowed
- Indoor Dining-Open
- 25% maximum occupancy (50% beginning September 21)
- For More Information on September 21 Guidelines Click Here
- Bars-Limited
- Alcohol can only be served with sit-down, dine-in meals (no bar service). Take-out sales of alcoholic beverages permitted.
- Additional Requirements
- Must maintain 6 feet between parties or provide physical barriers between customers where booths are arranged back to back
- For More Information Click Here
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
- Additional Requirements
- Service (excluding take-out sales) shall be closed to patrons by 11:00 p.m.
- The use of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited
- For More Information Click Here
Philadelphia
- Outdoor Dining-Open
- Maximum 6 people per table
- Indoor Dining-Open
- Maximum 4 people per table
- For More Information Click Here
New Jersey
Statewide
- Outdoor Dining-Open
- Capacity limited to a number that ensures all parties remain six feet apart
- Indoor Dining-Open
- 25% Maximum Occupancy
- Bars-Open
- Must follow restaurant guidelines
- Additional Requirements:
- Maximum of 8 customers per table (unless from an immediate family or the same household)
- Must maintain 6 feet between parties
- Orders may only be placed, served, and consumed by parties seated at tables
- For More Information Click Here
New York
Statewide
- Outdoor Dining-Open
- Capacity limited to a number that ensures all parties remain six feet apart
- Indoor Dining-Open
- 50% Maximum Occupancy
- Bars-Limited
- Alcohol can only be served with sit-down, dine-in meals
- Careful! don’t want to be included in the Governor’s Wall of Shame
- Additional Requirements
- Minimum distance of 6 feet between tables
- Wherever distancing is not feasible, physical barriers must be enacted
- Maximum 10 people per table.
- Seating in bar areas and communal tables are only permitted if at least 6 feet can be maintained between parties.
- For More Information Click Here
New York City
- Indoor Dining-Resumes soon
- September 30th indoor dining allowed
- Additional Requirements
- Hours of Operation*
- Monday–Saturday: 8 am to 11 pm
- Sunday: 10 am to 11 pm
- *unless utilizing private outdoor space which had previous rights*
- For More Information Click Here
Florida
Statewide
- Outdoor Dining-Open
- Full outdoor seating allowed with social distancing
- Indoor Dining-Open
- 50% Maximum Occupancy
- Bars-Limited
- Establishments may only operate if they have a food license
- Seated service only
- Additional Requirements
- Bar seating allowed
- 6 feet or appropriate partition between parties
- For More Information Click Here
Miami-Dade
- Additional Requirements
- On-Premise Consumption Closed 10 pm–6 am
- Maximum 6 people at tables indoors and outdoors (10 if one family)
- For More Information Click Here
Palm Beach County
- Additional Requirements
- On-Premise Consumption Closed: 12 am – 5 pm
- For More Information Click Here
Broward County
- Additional Requirements
- On-Premise Consumption Closed: 11 p.m. – 5 a.m.
- No Bar Seating
- For More Information Click Here
If you have any questions the current state of Covid-19 related openings and closures in PA, NJ, NY and FL, please contact Jennifer Ward at 215-647-6601 or jward@thewardlaw.com.