Guidelines Across America – State-by-State Look at Restaurant/Bar Reopening Guidelines

What Restrictions Will Be Imposed on Restaurants, like Duke’s Foggy Bottom, When Things Reopen – Photo by BIDC

Since March 30th, every restaurant/bar in America (outside South Dakota), has been legally closed for dine-in service. This changed on Friday, April 24th when Alaska unceremoniously allowed restaurants to start serving dine-in. Below is a compilation of key restrictions (with links) that states who are opening have imposed. I’m definitely not endorsing any of these plans, but I think they are extremely helpful for letting patrons and businesses know what they might expect in near future:

 

  State Date % Capacity Group Size Buffer Size Bars Open? Miscellaneous
1 Alaska 4/24 25% inside. 20 tables Household only Indoors – ?

Outdoors – 10 ft

No Reservations Only
2 Georgia 4/27 10 people/500 sq feet of public space (roughly 25-33% 6 6 ft No Reservations Recommended
3 Tenn. 4/27 (recs only) 50% 6 6 ft No No live music. No bar sitting
4 Utah 5/1 100% 10 6 ft Yes No bar sitting
5 North Dakota 5/1 50% 10 6 ft Yes No Dance Floors,

Groups of 1-2 people can sit at bar counter 6 feet part from others

6 Okla. 5/1 50% indoor, 100% outdoor* 6 ft No
7 Texas 5/1 25% (50% in certain co.) 6 (recs only) 6 ft (recs only) No Valet prohibited
8 Iowa

(77/99 co.)

5/1 50% 6 6 ft No
9 Louisiana 5/1 0% indoor, 25% outdoor ? ? No No table service
10 Nebraska (parts of state) 5/4 50% 6 ? Yes, unless they don’t serve food No bar seating. Can only consume alcohol with meal
11 Montana 5/4 50% 6 6 ft Yes (breweries, distilleries too) No sitting/standing at bars.

11:30p closure.

12 Missouri 5/4 25% (less than 10k sq ft)

10% (more than 10k)

10 6 ft ? No communal seating
13 Florida 5/4 25% inside. 100% outdoor* 10 6 ft No
14 West Virginia 5/4 0% inside. 100% outdoor 6 6 ft No
15 Kansas 5/4 100%* 10 6 ft or physical barriers No Each locality can make more restrictions. Kansas repeatedly emphasizes physical barriers between tables is another way.
16 South Carolina 5/4 0% indoor / 100% outdoor 8 8 ft Includes patio, balcony, rooftop, parking lots,
17 Miss. 5/7 50% 6 6 ft No No bar area. Close to public at 10p
18 Nevada 5/7 50% seating capacity (excluding bar) ? 6 ft Only if permitted to sell food Bar areas closed. Must wait outside until seated. Require reservations “to the maximum extent practicable”
19 Arkansas 5/11 33% 10 6 ft/10 feet tables No No bar area. Patrons must wear face covering until food/drink served
20 Indiana 5/11 (part of state) 50% 6 6 ft Yes Reservations required when practicable. No bar area. No live music
21 Arizona 5/11 Optional reduction 10 (recommended) 6 ft (recommended No Recommended guidance
22 Virginia 5/15 0% indoor, 50% outdoor * 10 6 ft Sort of (no bars in VA) Encourage face coverings by customers except when seated. Recommended reservation. Live music allowed
23 Ohio 5/15 (outdoor) 5/21/ (indoor) Outdoor 5/15, Indoor 5/21. No apparently reduction of capactiy 10 6 ft No Recommended face coverings for guests except when eating
24 New Hampshire 5/18 0% indoor / 100% outdoor 6 6 ft ? Parking spaces, sidewalks, patios, lawn areas
25 Kentucky 5/22 33% indoor/ outdoor seating

2 responses to “Guidelines Across America – State-by-State Look at Restaurant/Bar Reopening Guidelines”

  1. […] the current pandemic crisis, bars and restaurants (until last Friday and not in South Dakota) have been closed for dine/drink-in. All states (except SD & NM) have […]

  2. […] one. As research has shown, the coronavirus is spread more easily in confined spaces. This is why several states (diverse as Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Louisiana) have allowed outdoor dining […]

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