Reopening PA's Restaurants

GENERAL INFORMATION
On May 27, Gov. Wolf released guidelines for reopening Pennsylvania's restaurants and announced that restaurants in yellow counties may offer outdoor dining. 

Guidance Documents

• Wolf Administration Restaurant Industry Specific Guidance (Updated 6/10/2020) | VIEW
  • Key Changes to the Guidelines include:
    • Permitting physical barriers between booths
    • Maximum occupancy includes customers and employees
    • If no maximum occupancy is listed, the ratio is now 24 people per 1,000 square feet
    • Guidelines apply to discrete gatherings & events
    • Permits live music with social distancing
    • Now encouraged (but not mandated) to close or remove amenities and congregate areas non-essential to the preparation and service of food or beverages such as dance floors, game areas, playgrounds, small games of chance and tavern gaming etc. in the green phase
    • Allow for the refilling of food/beverage containers in the yellow phase as long as the container or implement can be refilled without contact with the tap or dispenser, containers are sanitized before use, or the tap or dispenser is sanitized before and after each use
    • All private event spaces and wedding venues with food service authorized to conduct in-person activities pursuant to this guidance are required to maintain a list of all guests in attendance including location of origin for each guest
• PLCB Guidance for Licensees in Green Counties (5/29/2020) | VIEW
• PLCB Advisory Notice on Temporary Extended Premise (6/3/2020) | VIEW 
• Wolf Administration Process to Reopening Pennsylvania | VIEW
• Wolf Administration FAQs for Businesses Operating During the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency |  VIEW
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Decision Tree for Restaurants & Bars | VIEW
• Pennsylvania General Business Operational Guidance | VIEW
  • NOTE: Businesses must download, print, sign, and hang the "COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Businesses" flyer (You only need to print and display one version.)
    • English (8.5" x 11")  | Spanish (8.5" x 11")
    • English (8.5" x 14")  | Spanish (8.5" x 14")
• Philadelphia Outdoor Dining Guidelines (issued 6/11/2020) | VIEW
  • Philadelphia Temporary Outdoor Dining Instructions | VIEW
  • Philadelphia Temporary Outdoor Dining Application | VIEW
• Philadelphia Guidelines for Indoor Dining (issued 6/25/2020) | DOWNLOAD
  • PLEASE NOTE: There are some significant differences between the Philadelphia guidance and the state guidelines so please read the City's guidelines thoroughly.
• Philadelphia official issued mask wearing requirements on June 26, 2020 | READ MORE
• Allegheny County shuts down dine-in services for one week, starting July 3, 2020 (issued 7/2/2020) | VIEW ORDER
• Allegheny County bans on-premise consumption of alcohol (issued 6/28/2020) | DOWNLOAD ORDER

Best Practices

• US Foods Reopening Blueprint | DOWNLOAD
• 6 Great Ways to Social Distance Your Restaurant | READ
• How to Get your Guests to Order from your Restaurant Instead of a Delivery App | READ
• Design Strategies for Restaurants Reopening During the Pandemic  |  READ
• Ready Restaurants to Reopen with this Kitchen Checklist | READ​

Reopening Restaurants FAQs

What does it mean that the Pa. Legislature passed a resolution ending the Governor's Emergency Disaster Declaration?
At this time, nothing has changed. Businesses should continue following the guidance provided for the yellow and green phases of reopening and enforcement will continue for those who violate the orders of the Governor or Secretary of Health. The issue will likely go to the Pa. Supreme Court. However, Gov. Wolf outlined the consequences of ending the declaration.  Importantly, ending the disaster declaration would not end any orders issued by the Secretary of Health that set guidelines for business operations. PRESS RELEASE
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Would outdoor dining be a rooftop if they offered sit down meal service? 
A rooftop could be used as an outdoor dining space so long as it is not enclosed.  

Once my county moves to indoor dining, does outdoor dining go away? 
No.