Outdoor dining is here to stay in the Garden State for restaurants, bars and breweries alike.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy this week signed into law permanent expansions to the state’s outdoor dining laws, which were initially established during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Outdoor dining has proven to be an incredibly successful venture over the past four years, benefiting business owners and patrons alike,” Murphy said in a statement.
The temporary rules permitted eateries and craft alcohol businesses to use things like tents, canopies and umbrellas on a temporary basis starting in Feb. 2021. These original provisions had been set to expire at the end of Nov. 2024.
Businesses can now turn those temporary permits into permanent, renewable ones with the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Establishments must renew their permits annually under the law.
Despite the statewide rules, the outdoor eateries must still comply with local health and safety regulations. .
Craft brewers in particular are celebrating the new rules, after long decrying the state’s regulations on the industry. The 2021 outdoor dining rules expanded where and how these businesses could sell alcohol for immediate consumption.
“In an industry where it is paramount to provide its loyal patrons the hospitality experiences they desire, making outdoor seating areas a permanent option fits into this goal,” said Scott Wells, a board member at the Brewers Guild of New Jersey.