New Hampshire Regulations for Restaurant Seating

Like all eating establishments across the country, New Hampshire restaurant owners have much to consider when deciding how to lay out a restaurant's seating. Not only are their requirements for how far each table should be from one another, there are also several permits to obtain from many different organizations that monitor health and safety in restaurants.

Building Permits and Seating

In order to build a restaurant or change the use of a building to a restaurant in New Hampshire, a company must first fill out a Building Permit New Use/Change in Use Application. Along with the application, a potential business must also submit a site plan and floor plan that gives all room dimensions, the location of all doors and exit signs as well as kitchen equipment layout. Although a business does not have to submit how much seating is available, they must submit a proposed seating layout with the location of tables and all seating, including stools, booths and chairs.

Places of Assembly Requirements

The Division of Fire Safety and Emergency Management plays a large part in how restaurant seating is determined. For restaurants that seat more than 100 people, New Hampshire requires that the business satisfy certain requirements for places of assembly. Owners are required to obtain a Place of Assembly Permit from a fire chief or other appointed person. There is no fee for the permit, but it must be renewed every year. The fire chief must inspect each building twice a year for unsafe conditions. This involves an inspection of exits, aisles and seating arrangements. If orders for the correction of these unsafe condition are not followed, a misdemeanor charge can be handed down to violators.

Health Department Requirements

In New Hampshire, any business serving food and alcohol must apply for a Health Department permit. This permit requires that a business submit equipment, plumbing and seating layouts of a restaurant. The Health Department gives out a yellow sign-off sheet once plans are approved. According to the City of Manchester Fire Prevention Bureau, this sign-off sheet then requires signatures from several departments, including the Health, Electrical, Zoning and City Clerk departments.

Layout Requirements

For restaurants that seat 49 people or less, the Portsmouth Fire Department states that aisle widths should be measured from the center of tables. For tables that run parallel to one another, this distance should be at least 36 inches. If the end of a table forms an aisle with the side of another table, this distance should be at least 55 inches. If tables are arranged end-to-end as is common in large banquet hall seating, aisles should extend to 74 inches. Restaurant seating layout requirements change once the seating capacity exceeds 49 people and all measurements should be extended by 8 inches, according to the Portsmouth Fire Department.