Covid-19 Update – Restaurants, Breweries, Wineries, and other Licensed Premises Permitted to Temporarily Add Outdoor Serving Areas Due to Covid-19
For all Pennsylvania licensed alcohol establishments, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has temporarily waived both the application fee and the 30-day waiting period typically required to extend a licensed premises outdoors.
A few key notes for an establishment seeking to obtain an outdoor extension of premises include:
- The establishment must submit a plan for the outdoor area.
o The proposed outdoor area must be immediately adjacent to, abutting, and contiguous to the existing licensed premises.
o If the area is not under the establishment’s control – i.e. a sidewalk – then it must provide proof that it has the right to occupy the
location - Once the application is submitted, the confirmation page must be printed and displayed.
- The temporary extension will expire when: (1) the Covid-19 Emergency Declaration ends, (2) a protest or petition to intervene is received, or (3) the PLCB advises this authority has ended.
- If the establishment wishes to permanently extend its licensed premises, it must follow the normal application process and pay the fee.
With these licensed establishments currently being limited in the amount of indoor dining and seating they can offer, this option will hopefully serve as a beneficial option to increase business in a safe and responsible manner.
Any establishment seeking assistance with obtaining a temporary extension or with inquiries regarding this practice area can be directed to attorney Aaron Weiss at 412-434-5421 or weiss@zklaw.com
Zimmer Kunz’s brewery and liquor law practice handles a wide variety of legal matters, including litigation for social host liability, nuisance, premises liability, inadequate security, breaches of contract, etc. It also provides useful advice and education to assist with obtaining liquor licenses, complying with existing legislation, complying with the changing Covid-19 regulations, preparing contracts, and ensuring these establishments are properly prepared for any legal issues that may arise.
