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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed a bill into law that permanently allows restaurants and bars to serve customers in designated outdoor spaces or on sidewalks. The law, which was signed on Monday (November 25), means that establishments can continue to use outdoor fixtures such as tents, canopies, umbrellas, tables, and chairs. The outdoor dining permissions, initially established during the COVID-19 pandemic, were set to expire at the end of November 2024 but will now be permanent.
According to a press release from the Governor's office, the law will provide greater support to the food and beverage industry by facilitating opportunities to expand their licensed premises within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalks. Governor Murphy said, “Outdoor dining has proven to be an incredibly successful venture over the past four years, benefiting business owners and patrons alike. I’m proud to continue this popular measure and look forward to seeing our restaurant industry continue to grow.”
The new law allows businesses that currently have a temporary expansion permit issued by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to convert it to a permanent permit, renewable annually at the discretion of local officials. The legislation was passed unanimously by the state legislature on October 25.
The move has been welcomed by local businesses and patrons alike. Outdoor dining has not only helped many food businesses survive the pandemic, but it has also been a hit among patrons and brought foot traffic to retailers that desperately needed it. The success of outdoor dining endured for many communities.