Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order 230 on Thursday, March 11, 2021, that expands capacity limits for a number of social and business activities and events, including indoor and outdoor gatherings, sports activities and indoor dining and services. The Executive Order goes into effect on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 6:00AM.

The following is a list of the capacity changes outlined in the Executive Order:

Indoor:

  • Gatherings, with the exception of those for political activities, religious activities, weddings, funerals or memorial services, are limited to a maximum of 25 people
  • Gatherings for political activities, weddings, funerals or memorial services are limited to 35% of the room’s capacity with a total minimum limit of 25 persons and a maximum of 150 persons excluding staff of the location
  • Gatherings for religious activities including weddings, funerals or memorial services and religious services are limited to 50% of the room’s capacity
  • Indoor performing arts venues and theaters are limited to 35% of capacity to a maximum of 150 persons excluding staff
  • Food and beverage establishments, personal care services, health clubs and casinos are limited to 50% of indoor capacity excluding staff
  • Attendance at professional and collegiate athletics, both practices and games, is limited to 25 persons excluding athletes, coaches, referees and training staff; however the total number of people including the aforementioned may not exceed 35% of the capacity of the venue to a maximum of 150 persons
  • Attendance at all other sports practices and competitions are limited to a maximum of 25 persons– if athletes, coaches, referees and trainers required for the event are greater than 25, the event may proceed
  • Executive Order 225 remains in effect related to indoor, sports and entertainment venues with fixed seating capacity of 5,000 or more – the capacity limits for those venues remains at 10% of maximum capacity

Outdoor:

  • Outdoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of 50 persons – this requirement does not apply to religious activities, political activities, weddings, funerals, alcoholics anonymous or legislative proceedings
  • Outdoor performing arts venues are limited to the number of people that allows all individuals to remain 6 feet apart to a maximum of 150 persons
  • Attendance at outdoor professional and college athletics, both practices and games, is limited to a maximum of 50 persons not including athletes, coaches, referees and training staff
  • Attendance at all other sports practices and competitions are limited to a maximum of 50 persons – if athletes, coaches, referees and trainers required for the event are greater than 50, the event may proceed
  • Executive Order 225 remains in effect related to outdoor, sports and entertainment venues with fixed seating capacity of 5,000 or more – the capacity limits for those venues remains at 15% of maximum capacity

The Executive Order does not change the requirements regarding face coverings, social distancing, hand washing and sanitizing. Businesses should continue to comply with safety measures even while increasing capacity limits.

Please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Labor and Employment Group if you have questions about what this order means for your operations and business.