EAST RUTHERFORD – It looks like outdoor dining is here to stay, a least for a while. Gov. Phil Murphy today signed a bill to extend outdoor dining to Nov. 30, 2024.
The bill expands permissions for restaurants, bars, distilleries, and breweries to use fixtures and equipment to serve patrons outdoors in private areas, on sidewalks, and in other municipally designated outdoor areas. The permissions were set to expire Nov. 30 but will now be extended by two additional years to support the food and beverage industry, patrons and local communities by facilitating opportunities to serve customers outdoors.
“My administration worked in collaboration with the legislature to support the restaurant industry and their customers by expanding outdoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue that support today by extending these expanded permissions for food and beverage establishments throughout our state,” Murphy said.
The practice will not only benefit small business owners, but also the many patrons who have come to enjoy outdoor dining, he said.
Senate Bill 2364 authorizes continued use of fixtures such as tents, canopies, umbrellas, tables and chairs for outdoor dining, extending a law Murphy signed in February 2021.
