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.
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