The Wolf Administration released a list of frequently asked questions for restaurant owners about a new self-certification process that is required in order to increase indoor capacity to 50%.Wolf said Tuesday that Open & Certified Pennsylvania will ensure that customers and employees know the restaurants are committed to strictly complying with all public health safety guidelines and orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.Any restaurant that wants to increase indoor capacity beginning Sept. 21 must complete the online self-certification process by Oct. 5.Frequently asked questionsThis list of frequently asked questions was posted on the Department of Community and Economic Development website.Is my restaurant required to be certified? Will my restaurant face any penalties if it is not certified?No. Restaurants may choose to not self-certify with no additional penalties. However, uncertified restaurants must remain at 25% indoor capacity and are not permitted to increase indoor capacity to 50%. Whether self-certifying, or choosing to remain at 25% capacity all restaurants and bars must still abide by all applicable orders and guidance issued by the Governor and Secretary of Health.What are the benefits of self-certifying my restaurant?Self-certifying your restaurant tells consumers that Pennsylvania is open for business and is unified in its safety measures, allowing consumers to dine at certified restaurants with confidence. When a business certifies, it shows it cares about its customers, employees, community and the economic future of the state.Certified businesses will appear in an online database that is searchable by consumers. When consumers see that your business is certified, they will know that your business is looking out for their health and well-being, thus giving them additional confidence to patronize your restaurant. Certified restaurants will also receive a physical mailing of branded physical materials, such as window clings and other signage, to display proudly to their employees and customers.Finally, restaurants that self-certify are pledging that they adhere to health and safety requirements and are thus permitted to increase their indoor capacity from 25% of maximum occupancy to 50% of maximum occupancy.Is there a cost to self-certification?No. There is no cost to self-certification. The physical materials, such as window clings and other signage, will be mailed to your restaurant’s physical address at no cost.How do I self-certify my restaurant?Restaurant owners or their official business representatives can certify their restaurant online (link available on September 21). To certify your restaurant, you must read through the health and safety requirements, input your contact information, and click SUBMIT. You will then receive an email with a link to validate your email address and complete the self-certification process. Upon validating your email, the self-certification process will be complete, and your restaurant will be added to the searchable public database of certified restaurants by the next business day. Physical materials, such as window clings and other signage, will be mailed to the address listed on your self-certification within a few weeks.What if I have multiple restaurant locations?Restaurants with multiple locations should certify each location separately.How long will it take me to receive my physical materials?We anticipate that restaurants will begin to receive their physical certification materials within the next few weeks. We appreciate your patience as we work to print and ship a large volume of materials while keeping our employees safe and healthy.What do I do if a few weeks pass and I haven’t received my materials?Please contact the help desk at 1.866.466.3972 or [email protected] will certifications be enforced?Restaurants are not required to self-certify and will not face any penalty if they do not self-certify but must ensure that the restaurant remains at 25% indoor capacity. If a restaurant is operating at greater than 25% indoor capacity and is not self-certified by Oct. 5, they will be subject to penalties by the Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. Information regarding violations will be shared with the Departments of State, Labor & Industry, and Health, as well as other enforcement agencies.What happens if a certified business is found in violation of the health and safety requirements to which it attested?Businesses may have their certification revoked and be removed from the searchable online database of certified businesses if they are found in violation of the health and safety requirements. If a business has its certification revoked, continuing to display physical certification materials may result in additional penalties.Can I remain at 25% capacity if I wish to do so after self-certifying?Yes. Self-certification simply gives restaurants the option to increase their indoor capacity to 50%. They may choose to keep their occupancy limit lower if they so choose.When will enforcement begin?Enforcement will begin Oct. 5.What if I do not have internet access or there is a language barrier?Businesses without internet access can call 1-866-466-3972 and a representative will be able to assist. The self-certification process is currently provided in both English and Spanish. Additional translations are planned to be available soon.I am a consumer and want to see which restaurants in my area are self-certified. How do I do that?Consumers will be able to view a public database of self-certified restaurants which will be searchable by business name and/or location.I’m a consumer, and I was at a restaurant that was not following guidelines. How do I report a non-compliant business?Consumers that believe a restaurant is not compliant with certification requirements, or is not certified but operating at greater than 25% indoor capacity, can fill out the Department of Health complaint form. Does the increased capacity include both indoor and outdoor seating?The increased capacity refers to indoor seating. Restaurants can continue to offer outdoor seating as long as they follow all health and safety protocols for outdoor dining, such as ensuring proper distance between tables.Can I resume selling alcoholic drinks without food?No. Self-certification only increases the maximum indoor capacity to 50% of total indoor occupancy. All other health and safety measures for restaurants remain in effect.Does self-certification alter the prior orders and guidance issued by the Governor, Secretary of Health, or otherwise?Self-certification does not alter any other restriction or limitation other than allowing certified establishments to operate at 50% indoor occupancy, rather than 25% indoor occupancy. All other restrictions or limitations put in place by orders or guidance remain in full effect.Can event spaces, bingo halls, or other large facilities increase capacity to 50%?No. Self-certification only increases the maximum indoor capacity of restaurants to 50% of total indoor occupancy. All other restrictions laid out in the Targeted Mitigation Order remain in effect.Can a restaurant host a single group greater than 25 people, as long as they don’t exceed the new 50% maximum occupancy requirement?No. Discrete gatherings of individuals are limited to 25 people indoors. Restaurants may, however, host a group up to 25 in addition to their ordinary business if all other requirements are followed, including limiting overall capacity to 50% of total occupancy.I have a catering license. What does this mean for me?Self-certification is not directed to licensees. It only increases the maximum indoor capacity to 50% of total indoor occupancy.What if a county health department has issued its own guidance? What do I follow?County and municipal health departments may issue more restrictive, not less restrictive, public health orders.
The Wolf Administration released a list of frequently asked questions for restaurant owners about a new self-certification process that is required in order to increase indoor capacity to 50%.
Wolf said Tuesday that Open & Certified Pennsylvania will ensure that customers and employees know the restaurants are committed to strictly complying with all public health safety guidelines and orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Any restaurant that wants to increase indoor capacity beginning Sept. 21 must complete the online self-certification process by Oct. 5.
Frequently asked questions
This list of frequently asked questions was posted on the Department of Community and Economic Development website.
Is my restaurant required to be certified? Will my restaurant face any penalties if it is not certified?
No. Restaurants may choose to not self-certify with no additional penalties. However, uncertified restaurants must remain at 25% indoor capacity and are not permitted to increase indoor capacity to 50%. Whether self-certifying, or choosing to remain at 25% capacity all restaurants and bars must still abide by all applicable orders and guidance issued by the Governor and Secretary of Health.
What are the benefits of self-certifying my restaurant?
Self-certifying your restaurant tells consumers that Pennsylvania is open for business and is unified in its safety measures, allowing consumers to dine at certified restaurants with confidence. When a business certifies, it shows it cares about its customers, employees, community and the economic future of the state.
Certified businesses will appear in an online database that is searchable by consumers. When consumers see that your business is certified, they will know that your business is looking out for their health and well-being, thus giving them additional confidence to patronize your restaurant. Certified restaurants will also receive a physical mailing of branded physical materials, such as window clings and other signage, to display proudly to their employees and customers.
Finally, restaurants that self-certify are pledging that they adhere to health and safety requirements and are thus permitted to increase their indoor capacity from 25% of maximum occupancy to 50% of maximum occupancy.
Is there a cost to self-certification?
No. There is no cost to self-certification. The physical materials, such as window clings and other signage, will be mailed to your restaurant’s physical address at no cost.
How do I self-certify my restaurant?
Restaurant owners or their official business representatives can certify their restaurant online (link available on September 21). To certify your restaurant, you must read through the health and safety requirements, input your contact information, and click SUBMIT. You will then receive an email with a link to validate your email address and complete the self-certification process. Upon validating your email, the self-certification process will be complete, and your restaurant will be added to the searchable public database of certified restaurants by the next business day. Physical materials, such as window clings and other signage, will be mailed to the address listed on your self-certification within a few weeks.
What if I have multiple restaurant locations?
Restaurants with multiple locations should certify each location separately.
How long will it take me to receive my physical materials?
We anticipate that restaurants will begin to receive their physical certification materials within the next few weeks. We appreciate your patience as we work to print and ship a large volume of materials while keeping our employees safe and healthy.
What do I do if a few weeks pass and I haven’t received my materials?
Please contact the help desk at 1.866.466.3972 or [email protected].
How will certifications be enforced?
Restaurants are not required to self-certify and will not face any penalty if they do not self-certify but must ensure that the restaurant remains at 25% indoor capacity. If a restaurant is operating at greater than 25% indoor capacity and is not self-certified by Oct. 5, they will be subject to penalties by the Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. Information regarding violations will be shared with the Departments of State, Labor & Industry, and Health, as well as other enforcement agencies.
What happens if a certified business is found in violation of the health and safety requirements to which it attested?
Businesses may have their certification revoked and be removed from the searchable online database of certified businesses if they are found in violation of the health and safety requirements. If a business has its certification revoked, continuing to display physical certification materials may result in additional penalties.
Can I remain at 25% capacity if I wish to do so after self-certifying?
Yes. Self-certification simply gives restaurants the option to increase their indoor capacity to 50%. They may choose to keep their occupancy limit lower if they so choose.
When will enforcement begin?
Enforcement will begin Oct. 5.
What if I do not have internet access or there is a language barrier?
Businesses without internet access can call 1-866-466-3972 and a representative will be able to assist. The self-certification process is currently provided in both English and Spanish. Additional translations are planned to be available soon.
I am a consumer and want to see which restaurants in my area are self-certified. How do I do that?
Consumers will be able to view a public database of self-certified restaurants which will be searchable by business name and/or location.
I’m a consumer, and I was at a restaurant that was not following guidelines. How do I report a non-compliant business?
Consumers that believe a restaurant is not compliant with certification requirements, or is not certified but operating at greater than 25% indoor capacity, can fill out the Department of Health complaint form.
Does the increased capacity include both indoor and outdoor seating?
The increased capacity refers to indoor seating. Restaurants can continue to offer outdoor seating as long as they follow all health and safety protocols for outdoor dining, such as ensuring proper distance between tables.
Can I resume selling alcoholic drinks without food?
No. Self-certification only increases the maximum indoor capacity to 50% of total indoor occupancy. All other health and safety measures for restaurants remain in effect.
Does self-certification alter the prior orders and guidance issued by the Governor, Secretary of Health, or otherwise?
Self-certification does not alter any other restriction or limitation other than allowing certified establishments to operate at 50% indoor occupancy, rather than 25% indoor occupancy. All other restrictions or limitations put in place by orders or guidance remain in full effect.
Can event spaces, bingo halls, or other large facilities increase capacity to 50%?
No. Self-certification only increases the maximum indoor capacity of restaurants to 50% of total indoor occupancy. All other restrictions laid out in the Targeted Mitigation Order remain in effect.
Can a restaurant host a single group greater than 25 people, as long as they don’t exceed the new 50% maximum occupancy requirement?
No. Discrete gatherings of individuals are limited to 25 people indoors. Restaurants may, however, host a group up to 25 in addition to their ordinary business if all other requirements are followed, including limiting overall capacity to 50% of total occupancy.
I have a catering license. What does this mean for me?
Self-certification is not directed to licensees. It only increases the maximum indoor capacity to 50% of total indoor occupancy.
What if a county health department has issued its own guidance? What do I follow?
County and municipal health departments may issue more restrictive, not less restrictive, public health orders.
