Outdoor dining rules made permanent with new law

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy signed bipartisan legislation Monday to make the state’s outdoor dining rules permanent, extending a pandemic-era practice that allowed restaurants to operate amid indoor restrictions.

New Jersey has allowed outdoor dining on a temporary basis since June 2020, when Murphy issued an executive order meant to ease restaurant operations amid shutdown orders and strict limits on indoor capacity, but those rules were due to expire at the end of November.

“Outdoor dining has proven to be an incredibly successful venture over the past four years, benefiting business owners and patrons alike,” the governor said in a statement. “I’m proud to continue this popular measure and look forward to seeing our restaurant industry continue to grow.”

Under the new law, restaurants and craft alcohol manufacturers like breweries and wineries will retain the ability to erect outdoor dining areas on their premises or leased public spaces.

Those that hold temporary outdoor dining permits issued during the pandemic can convert them to permanent license that must be renewed annually, though existing temporary licenses will be extended to Nov. 30, 2025, to make time for the rulemaking process.

Lawmakers broadly have hailed outdoor dining, and the bill to make it permanent cleared both legislative chambers in unanimous votes last month.

Though the state’s alcoholic beverage control division will issue outdoor dining permits to establishments with liquor licenses, all outdoor dining permits must be approved by local governments.

Nikita Biryukov, New Jersey Monitor
November 25, 2024