PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation Friday that will expand opportunities for outdoor dining in New Jersey — and ultimately help restaurants that are struggling financially because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The bill allows restaurants, bars, distilleries and breweries to expand their outdoor spaces to serve patrons on public sidewalks, parking lots, patios and decks. Businesses are required to apply to their local municipality first.
Also, restaurants are allowed to operate outdoors through Nov. 30, 2022, even if indoor dining returns to full capacity before then.
"As we weather the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are continually trying to find new and innovative ways to aid our state's business community while not sacrificing our public health," Murphy said in a statement. "This bill will give our restaurants more certainty for the future so they can once again lean into the outdoor expansions we allowed this past summer to help recoup losses and strengthen their businesses and the jobs they support."
Murphy's bill comes on the same day that indoor dining capacity in New Jersey increased from 25% to 35%.
