Updates To COVID-19 Regulations

BACP is holding a webinar Monday, March 29 at 3:30PM for businesses


Late last week, the City of Chicago announced updates to the COVID-19 regulations that keep most indoor limits in place while allowing for cautious increases at outdoor spaces. These targeted mitigations follow three months of consistent decline and/or metric stability across the region, but they also consider a worrying rise in all metrics over the last few weeks. Positivity rates and total cases have increased and, most alarmingly, emergency department visits for COVID-like illnesses have increased by 38% in the last week alone.

In order to help businesses navigate these new guidelines, the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) is holding a webinar on Monday, March 29 at 3:30PM. Register and learn more at chicago.gov/businesseducation.

The following outdoor capacity changes took effect immediately (note that most indoor regulations will remain in place):

  • Bars and Restaurants: Maximum outdoor table size can increase to ten people, with tables set up so that patrons are six feet from patrons at other tables. Indoor table size remains limited to no more than six people

  • Social Events (e.g. weddings, potlucks and other community events): Total outdoor capacity can increase to the lesser of 50% or 100 people

  • Performance Venues, Theaters and Seated Spectator Events: Outdoor venues with capacity greater than or equal to 200 can operate at 25% capacity. Smaller venues can operate at no more than 50% capacity or 50 people

  • Outdoor Recreation: Maximum groups of 50; multiple groups permitted

  • Places of Worship: No outdoor capacity limit provided that six feet of social distancing is maintained between parties

  • Health and Fitness Centers: Outdoor classes can increase to 100 people

Please note that there have been two changes to indoor regulations in order to ensure consistency and safety:

  • Seating at the counter of restaurants and bars is now limited to four per party, with six feet between parties

  • Indoor fitness classes can increase to 50 people, provided that the total room capacity remains under the 50% limit and six feet of distancing is maintained between patrons, with face coverings worn at all times

In each setting, six feet of physical distance must be maintained between different parties, meaning that facilities may need to operate at a lower capacity to achieve six feet between parties. Additionally, in order to ensure proper enforcement and safety across industries, all patrons will continue to count towards capacity limits, even if they are fully vaccinated or have a recent negative test.

Visit chicago.gov/reopening for the most up-to-date COVID-19 regulations, including lists of mitigations by industry. We’re grateful for your compliance with the City as we all work to safely and securely re-open our community!

COVID-19Guest User