States That Are Reopening Dining Establishments After COVID-19

Despite the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the United States, some U.S. states are allowing dining establishments to reopen with certain regulations, whether that means reopening with suggested social distancing, take-out or outdoor dining only, or with a strict 50% occupancy limit. Here is information about the varying guidelines for reopening in each state as of June 30 via Eater.com.

The information provided in this guide is for informational purposes. Please contact your local city or state agency for specific rules and regulations for reopening your restaurant during the coronavirus pandemic.

State Guidelines for Restaurant Reopening

Alabama

Restaurants: Eight-person group limit; tables six feet apart

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Alaska

Restaurants: 100% capacity; reservations recommended

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Arizona

Restaurants: 10-person group limit; reduced occupancy based on size of restaurant

Bars: Bars previously allowed to reopen are now shut down due to COVID-19 spike

Arkansas

Restaurants: 10-person group limit; 66% capacity

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

California

Restaurants: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Colorado

Restaurants: 50% occupancy or 50 individuals; tables six feet apart; eight-person group limit

Bars: 25% occupancy or 50 individuals

Connecticut

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; outdoor dining only; tables six feet apart

Bars: Closed to dine-in service

Washington D.C.

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; six-person group limit; tables outside must be six feet apart

Bars: Closed to dine-in service

Delaware

Restaurants: 60% occupancy; reservation-only; tables eight feet apart

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Florida

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; tables outside must be six feet apart

Bars: Bars previously allowed to reopen are now shut down due to COVID-19 spike

Georgia

Restaurants: No capacity limits

Bars: 35% occupancy or 50 individuals

Hawaii

Restaurants: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Bars: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Idaho

Restaurants: Suggested 50% occupancy; six-person group limit; tables 10 feet apart

Bars: Suggested 50% occupancy; six-person group limit; tables 10 feet apart

Illinois

Restaurants: Outdoor dining only; tables must be six feet apart

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Indiana

Restaurants: 75% occupancy

Bars: 50% occupancy

Iowa

Restaurants: Tables six feet apart

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Kansas

Restaurants: 10-person group limit; tables six feet apart

Bars: Closed to dine-in service

Kentucky

Restaurants: 33% occupancy for dine-in; no capacity for outdoor dining; tables six feet apart; restaurants can increase to 50% occupancy after one month of being reopen

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Louisiana

Restaurants: 50% occupancy for dine-in; no capacity for outdoor dining; tables 10 feet apart; social distancing

Bars: 25% occupancy

Maine

Restaurants: Tables six feet apart; eight-person group limit

Bars: Outdoor dining only

Maryland

Restaurants: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Bars: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Massachusetts

Restaurants: Tables six feet apart; six-person group limit

Bars: Closed to dine-in service

Michigan

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; tables six feet apart

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Minnesota

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; tables six feet apart

Bars: Reopen with tables six feet apart

Mississippi

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; six-person group limit

Bars: Reopen with social distancing

Missouri

Restaurants: Reopen with social distancing

Bars: Reopen with tables six feet apart

Montana

Restaurants: 75% occupancy

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Nebraska

Restaurants: No capacity limits

Bars: No capacity limits

Nevada

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; tables six feet apart

Bars: No capacity limits

New Hampshire

Restaurants: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Bars: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

New Jersey

Restaurants: Closed to dine-in service; outdoor dining only; tables six feet apart

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

New Mexico

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; tables six feet apart

Bars: Closed to dine-in service

New York

Restaurants: Closed to dine-in service; outdoor dining only; tables six feet apart

Bars: Closed to dine-in service

North Carolina

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; tables six feet apart

Bars: Closed to dine-in service

North Dakota

Restaurants: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Bars: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Ohio

Restaurants: 10-person group limit; tables six feet apart

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Oklahoma

Restaurants: Tables six feet apart

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Oregon

Restaurants: Tables six feet apart; 10-person group limit; service ends at 12 A.M.

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Pennsylvania

Restaurants: Closed to dine-in service; outdoor dining only on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Rhode Island

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; 15-person group limit

Bars: Closed

South Carolina

Restaurants: Suggested social distancing

Bars: Suggested social distancing

South Dakota

Restaurants: Suggested social distancing

Bars: Suggested social distancing

Tennessee

Restaurants: Tables six feet apart; 10-person group limit

Bars: Bars without sit-down service are closed

Texas

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; no capacity for outdoor dining

Bars: Closed

Utah

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; tables six feet apart; 10-person group limit

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Vermont

Restaurants: 25% occupancy; tables six feet apart

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Virginia

Restaurants: 50% occupancy

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Washington

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; five-person group limit

Bars: Reopen if food is served and patrons are seated

West Virginia

Restaurants: 50% occupancy; tables six feet apart; six-person group limit

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

Wisconsin

Restaurants: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Bars: Reopening on a county-by-county basis; social distancing

Wyoming

Restaurants: Tables six feet apart; six-person group limit

Bars: Reopen with capacity limits; social distancing

> Read More! Outdoor Restaurant Seating for Social Distancing and Reopening After COVID-19

What You Need for Outdoor Dining

With country-wide reopenings and establishments having to comply with certain restrictions, many more restaurants and bars are considering outdoor dining as an option. Some states, such as Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, are only allowing outdoor dining or bar-patronage and are otherwise closed. 

In order to create an inviting outdoor dining space that also follows state or county social distance guidelines, restaurant owners need to consider the following:

  • City and state outdoor dining laws and permits
  • COVID-19 and social distancing precautions
  • Durability and weather-proofing of outdoor shelters
  • Aesthetic appeal of outdoor dining areas
  • Comfort of patrons
  • Accessibility

WeatherPort® Tensioned Fabric Structures

Are you reopening your establishment and need to create or improve on your current outdoor dining area? WeatherPort® offers fully customizable outdoor canopy structures to fit your every need and has been assisting restaurant owners for the past 50 years. Our tensioned fabric structures for restaurants are extremely durable and weather-resistant, providing a comfortable and visually-pleasing shelter for outdoor dining patrons — and helping you keep your business going strong during the pandemic and beyond. Contact us today to find out how we can help.

Author

  • WeatherPort

    WeatherPort Shelter Systems™ (WP) is a Colorado based business that custom-designs high-performance fabric buildings for any application. Our custom-built structures offer an unmatched level of portability and long-lasting durability. Since opening our doors in 1968, we have successfully produced and delivered engineered fabric structures to more than 85 countries!

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