What are the capacity limits under this Order? 

This Order divides businesses into three general categories for occupancy restrictions: (a) 100% occupancy indoors and outdoors; (b) 75% occupancy limit indoors and 100% occupancy outdoors; and (c) 50% occupancy limit indoors and outdoors. None of the businesses are capped at a certain number of occupants; however, these establishments must ensure six (6) feet of social distancing between Guests.  

Indoors and Outdoors up to 100%, subject to 6 ft. social distancing  

• Museums and Aquariums
• Retail Businesses
• Salons, personal care and grooming businesses, tattoo parlors

Indoors up to 75% and Outdoors up to 100%, subject to 6 ft. social distancing 

• Restaurants   
• Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries
• Recreation (e.g., bowling, skating, rock climbing)
• Fitness and Physical Activity Facilities (e.g., gyms, yoga studios, fitness centers)
• Pools
• Amusement Parks

Indoors and Outdoors up to 50%, subject to 6 ft. social distancing 

• Bars
• Meeting, Reception, and Conference Spaces
• Lounges (including tobacco) and Night Clubs
• Auditoriums, Arenas, and other venues for live performances
• Sports Arenas and Fields (includes professional, collegiate, and amateur)
• Movie Theaters*
• Gaming Facilities*

*Movie theaters and gaming facilities may operate at 75% capacity outdoors.  

Do workers, entertainers, athletes, and other support staff count towards the capacity limits listed above? 

No.  

Are these businesses still required to follow public health and safety protocols? 

Yes. Establishments must follow the “Core Signage, Screening, and Sanitation Requirements” and any other specific health and safety measures outlined in the Order. Face Coverings are required in public spaces, unless an exception applies, and all North Carolinians are strongly encouraged to follow the 3Ws- Wear a Face Covering, Wait at least 6 feet apart, and Wash your hands often!   

If an establishment cannot operate at the occupancy limit stated in the Order while also ensuring six (6) feet of social distance between guests, can they continue to operate at the maximum occupancy limit? 

No. Establishments must abide by social distancing guidelines. If a business is unable to ensure six (6) feet of social distance between Guests at the maximum occupancy limit stated in the Order, the establishment must limit the number of Guests so that Guests can stay six (6) feet apart.    

For venues that can operate at up to 100% capacity, are other health and safety guidelines still in place? 

Yes. These venues, including museums, aquariums, retail, and personal care facilities, must continue to adhere to all health and safety protocols, including maintaining 6 feet of social distance between Guests. Many of the required health and safety protocols can be found in the appendix of the Order.  

Are private functions and meetings held at restaurants able to operate at the 75% (indoors) or 100% (outdoors) capacity limit set for restaurants or the 50% capacity limit (indoors and outdoors) set for meeting spaces, conference centers, and reception venues? 

A meeting or function held in a private room in a restaurant, including a reception or conference, is subject to the 50% capacity limit and other restrictions that apply to meeting spaces, conference centers, and reception venues.  

Bars, Lounges, and Night Spots

May private bars open indoors and provide for the sale and service of alcoholic beverages? 

Yes, these establishments may open indoors and outdoors at 50% of the stated fire capacity limit. Under the Order there is no cap on the number of individuals an establishment may allow at the capacity limit. However, these establishments must limit the number of Guests so that Guests can maintain six (6) feet of social distance.    

When must bars and other establishments stop serving alcoholic beverages? 

Executive Order No. 204 lifted restrictions on the late night sale and service of alcoholic beverages for bars, restaurants, and other establishments. These establishments must continue to abide by all other laws concerning the sale and service of alcoholic beverages, including rules and regulations established by the ABC Commission.

Are establishments authorized to sell mixed beverages “to-go” allowed to continue to sell mixed alcoholic beverages “to-go”?   

Certain establishments specified in Executive Order No. 183, as extended by Executive Order Nos. 190 and 205, may continue to sell mixed alcoholic beverages to-go until the expiration of Executive Order No. 205 or any subsequent extension, subject to the terms of that Order. Please see the FAQ for Executive Order No. 205, available here, for additional information.  

Are establishments allowed to operate amenities, such as pool and darts, under this Order? Yes.  

Must Guests at bars, lounges, night clubs, and other venues for live performances remain seated? Yes, Guests must remain seated unless entering or exiting, using amenities, visiting the restroom, or obtaining food or drinks.   

Are Guests allowed to sit indoors at a bar counter?

Yes. Guests may be seated at a bar counter but must be separated from other groups by six (6) feet.

Sports

Are spectators allowed at sporting events, including youth, high school, collegiate, and professional events? 

Yes, spectators are allowed both indoors and outdoors at sporting events. At indoor and outdoor sporting events, the facility must limit spectators to 50% of the facility’s stated fire capacity.  

Do the capacity limits for sporting events include the players, coaches, and officiants? No. These individuals are excluded from the capacity calculation.  

Are Face Coverings required for athletes participating in youth, high school, and amateur athletic events? 

Face Coverings are not required for those recreational and school athletes over age five (5) when exercising outdoors.  Recreational and school athletes over age five (5) should continue to wear a Face Covering when exercising indoors, unless an exception applies.  

Are there additional requirements for larger venues with the capacity to seat 5,000 or more indoors and 10,000 or more outdoors? 

Yes, these venues must take additional health and safety measures, including implementing measures to limit crowding in concourses, and providing for ticketed, socially-distanced seating.  These requirements are found in Section 6 of the Order.  

Meetings Spaces and Receptions

What is the capacity limit for a wedding reception? 

A wedding reception, hosted in a reception hall, conference room, or other meeting space has a 50% maximum occupancy limit, with no overarching occupancy cap. Wedding ceremonies and other worship, religious, and spiritual gatherings are not subject to a limit on attendees, but Guests are strongly encouraged to adhere to the 3 Ws (Wear a Face Covering, Wait at least 6 feet apart, and Wash your hands often!) while in attendance.

Are Guests required to be seated? 

Yes. These facilities must remain closed unless it is or becomes a seated establishment for Guests. Guests must remain seated, except to enter and leave, use amenities, visit the restroom, and obtain food or drink.  

Outdoor events

Do outdoor festivals and concerts follow the mass gathering limit or other capacity limit? 

Outdoor parades, fairs, and festivals are subject to the mass gathering limit of no more than two hundred (200) individuals per group that may gather together. However, concerts and other events held at outdoor venues for live performances are subject to a 50% occupancy limit or 12 Guests for every 1,000 square feet.   

Note: Certain qualifying large outdoor venues can seek approval from NCDHHS to increase capacity limitations.  Interested venues should contact NCDHHS at venues@dhhs.nc.gov. Venues should only seek approval for higher capacity limits during the duration of this Order unless otherwise extended.   

Are indoor and outdoor pools, in neighborhoods, waterparks, and hotels, allowed to open? Yes. Indoor pools may operate at no more than 75% of the maximum occupancy limit and outdoor pools may operate at 100% of the maximum occupancy limit. Establishments that do not meet the definition of an Amusement Park, as defined in the Order, and have waterslides over 15 feet, must follow the above stated occupancy limits for pools.

Higher Capacity Exemptions for Large Venues  

Can certain large venues host additional Guests beyond the stated capacity limits, pursuant to an approved health and safety plan? 

Yes. Certain venues may host Guests at a greater occupancy, provided the venue receives pre-approval for its health and safety plan from NCDHHS in accordance with public health criteria established by the Order and by NCDHHS.  Qualifying venues are those indoor facilities with seating capacity greater than five thousand (5,000) and outdoor facilities with seating capacity greater than one thousand (1,000). Interested venues and facilities should contact DHHS at venues@dhhs.nc.gov.  Venues should only seek approval for higher capacity limits during the duration of this Order unless otherwise extended.   

What will happen in June? 

 In June 2021, the Governor anticipates lifting most social distancing and capacity measures in the current Order.  The Governor will continue to take a science and data-driven approach to evaluating the need for public health measures to curb the spread of the virus and to advance the state’s economy in a safe and effective way, which is in the best interests of all North Carolinians.

NFPA Building Reopening Checklist

With recent announcements from the federal government and many states beginning to allow businesses to reopen, building owners and facility managers will be getting ready to reintroduce occupants to structures that may have been relatively vacant for an extended period. During this unique time, NFPA has encouraged the maintenance of all fire protection and life safety systems in commercial and multi-occupancy residential buildings. However, it is possible that many of the ongoing inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) activities required by locally enforced codes and standards may not have been completed for a variety of reasons. Regardless of the level of ITM performed during this time, it is imperative that building owners and facility managers verify the performance of all building fire protection and life safety systems prior to reoccupation.

To assist with these efforts, NFPA has developed a list of factors that should be confirmed by a qualified person before re-opening a building to ensure safety of all its occupants. Based on the assumption that the building was in compliance prior to being closed, the checklist below provides some initial steps to help ensure that the occupancy is safe enough to reopen until a qualified professional can complete the regularly scheduled ITM of all fire protection and life safety systems.

Any alterations to the building that adhere to public health guidelines, such as the installation of physical barriers or automatic door openers, will need to be evaluated to ensure that they are properly designed and installed and do not negatively impact the fire protection and life safety systems currently in place.

Download the Checklist

Institutional Facility staff should have plans in place to provide an isolation area within its facility for positive Covid-19 cases. Preplanning for this need is essential. Each facility has unique features and different floor plans, so planning for barrier locations and construction materials needed is of utmost importance. Installing temporary barriers can affect the required fire and life safety features of the facility. For this reason, all temporary barriers must be reviewed/approved by the local Fire Marshal’s Office (local contact list below) and the NC DHSR Life Safety Branch.

Here are several reminders for consideration in your planning

1. Where is this going to be located? (what hallway/area)
2. Sprinkler System - Temporary barrier should be equidistant between sprinkler heads (so as not to obstruct sprinkler head patterns).
3. Fire Alarm System - Smoke detectors available on each side of barrier.
4. Construction materials - Building materials need to be fire retardant – if plastic is used it must have at least a Class C Flame Spread rating; framing needs to be non-combustible (metal stud or frame instead of wood studs)
5. If barrier is in a means of egress (Exit) – additional signage will be required. How far will it be from the normal exit; what other exits are available in that hallway.
6. Emergency lights – evaluate emergency light locations; if barrier is not completely clear, an additional Emergency light may be required.
7. Any additional electrical equipment used (such as negative air machines) must be usedonly according to its listing/certification.

CONTACTS

• Winston Salem Fire DepartmentRick McIntyre 336-773-7968 
• Winston Salem/Forsyth County Building InspectionsDan Dockery 336-727-2084 
• Forsyth County Fire DepartmentGary Styers 336-703-2550 
• Kernersville Fire DepartmentSuzanne Murray 336-996-6791 
• High Point Fire DepartmentChris Weir 336-883-3617

Per the Executive Order NO.141

1. Indoor and Outdoor Pools May Open. During the effective period of this Executive Order, indoor or outdoor pool facilities (whether stand-alone or part of other facilities) may operate, but must be in compliance with this Subsection.
2. Requirements. While this Executive Order is in effect, all open pool facilities mustdo all ofthe following:a. 
   • Limit the user capacity in the pool to no more than 50% of maximum occupancy as determined by fire code (or, when fire code number is not known, thirty-three (33) people per one thousand (1000) square feet in deck areas, wading pools and splash pads), and a maximum occupancy in the water often (10) people per one thousand (1000) square feet. This user capacity is the Emergency Maximum Occupancy for the pool facility.
   • Follow the Core Signage, Screening, and Sanitation Requirements as defined in this Executive Order.
3. This Subsection applies only to shared pools in commercial settings or at residential complexes. It does not apply to family pools at people’s homes.

NC EO141-Phase-2