East Hampton may let restaurants move 100% of seating outdoors

Town may allow restaurants to bring all of their patrons outdoors beyond Nov. 1

Clam Bar in East Hampton (Getty)
Clam Bar in East Hampton (Getty)

The town of East Hampton may allow restaurants to move all of their seating capacity outdoors beyond November, according to the East Hampton Star.

Assistant town attorney NancyLynn Thiele briefed the town board on draft legislation to that effect earlier this month. An emergency declaration in March allowed restaurants to move all of their seating outdoors, but that is set to expire on Nov. 1.

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The new legislation would make that arrangement more formal and require permitting through the fire marshal. The town also has the option to allow 100 percent outdoor dining a permanent part of the town code. Currently, restaurants are allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity indoors, according to New York state’s phased guidelines for reopening. [East Hampton Star]