Update May 26, 2020: Please note that the Stay at Home Order was amended to allow walk-up ordering at restaurants and food trucks, construction that was permitted after March 22, and real estate activities. See amendment.
The City issued a new Business Activity and Stay at Home Order detailing restrictions on business activity, personal activity, and congregation in Philadelphia in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. These new restrictions take effect Monday, March 23, 2020, at 8 a.m.
Please review the details in this new Order as they contain important information about Social Distancing Rules and provide detailed information for people and businesses in the City of Philadelphia. The information posted below is a summary of some important changes.
The new Business Activity and Stay at Home Order includes:
Public Gatherings
All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited. This does not apply to activities related to Essential Businesses and Activities or Essential Personal Activities.
Stay at Home Order
All Philadelphia residents must remain home or at their place of residence unless they are engaged in Essential Personal Activities that are spelled out in the order.
Examples of essential personal activities include:
- Obtaining essential goods and services, including meal sites.
- Seeking medical attention or seeking assistance from law enforcement or emergency services
- Caring for family members, friends, or a pet in another household
- Delivering essential goods or services
- Reporting to or performing a job related to an essential business
- Moving in or out of a home or apartment
- Certain outdoor activities such as walking, running, cycling, or operating a wheelchair while using appropriate social distancing rules
- Education, religious, or political activities
The complete list of personal activity restrictions can be found in Section 6 of the order.
Business Activity
This new order does not impact the delivery of food or essential goods.
However, there have been changes to permitted business activities. These changes include:
- Walk-in takeout orders at restaurants are now prohibited. Food can be picked at a drive through. Food may also be pre-ordered via telephone or internet and either picked up or delivered.
- Food trucks and ice cream trucks are now prohibited.
Grocery stores and other essential businesses should discourage leisure or idle conduct by customers and manage store occupancy to allow for social distancing.
Consistent with the Governor’s order, the City clarifies that the following are life-sustaining businesses or services:
- Laundromats
- Veterinary hospitals and services, and pet stores
- Consumer banks and credit unions using drive-through, ATM and limited lobby services
- Stores that primarily repair cell phones
- Bicycle repair shops
- Emergency household repairs and maintenance including extermination services
Businesses required to suspend physical operations may only have essential on-site personnel to maintain critical functions, such as security, and processing of essential operations that cannot be done remotely.
View more information about what businesses are considered essential and non-essential.
Read the City’s guidance for essential businesses and organizations.
The City’s emergency restrictions no longer ends on Friday, March 27. To align with the Governor’s order, the City’s order remains in effect until further notice.
If you believe that an establishment should be closed but is not, please contact Philly311 by dialing 3-1-1 or submit a report online.
