Restaurants can increase their customer capacity from the current 25 percent to 50 percent if they complete the steps required by the state.

Dennis Davin, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, announced Monday that restaurant owners looking to double the maximum allowed capacity can fill out a self-certification form online.

The self-certification process enables restaurants, private social clubs and food service businesses that serve dine-in, sit-down food in a non-event capacity to increase indoor occupancy to 50 percent while adhering to mitigation efforts meant to keep employees and customers safe, according to a news release from the department.

“This new process will further help our restaurants on their path to recovery while instilling confidence in any patrons who walk through their door,” Davin said. Once certified, restaurants will be added to the “Open and Certified Pennsylvania” online database of certified restaurants across the state that diners can access to ensure the restaurant they are planning to patronize is maintaining coronavirus protocols.

Certified restaurants will receive Open and Certified Pennsylvania branded materials, such as window clings and other signage designating their certification.

For restaurant owners, the self-certification process entails:

- A list of requirements contained in the current restaurant industry guidance and enforcement efforts

- A statement that the owner has reviewed and agrees to follow the requirements

- The business' maximum indoor occupancy number based on fire code.

Restaurants owners who choose not to self-certify must remain at 25% capacity, and must continue to follow social distancing, masking and other mitigation measures.

Enforcement of the 50 percent indoor capacity will begin Oct. 5.

While many restaurants are closed Mondays, Pete Kallams, owner of Pizza Roma in Cranberry Township, worked to prepare for his evening customers.

Kallams said he will most likely forego the self-certification process because it involves jumping through too many hoops to increase his capacity by less than 10 customers.

“Also, I'm not a fan of the governor,” Kallams said of Gov. Tom Wolf. “He just lost a lawsuit. It's all politically motivated. He doesn't base his facts in science.”

He said his restaurant seats about 100 customers.

While self-certifications will not mean additional inspections, they will be used as part of ongoing enforcement efforts by the state Department of Agriculture and state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.

The certifications also will be shared with the departments of State, Labor & Industry, and Health as well as other enforcement agencies.

“Any health and safety violations from self-certified businesses will be handled first with warnings and education, rather than fines or other penalties,” the news release stated.

The Department of Community and Economic Development website cautions restaurant owners who choose certification that those found in violation of state health and safety requirements may have their certification revoked and be removed from the online database.

If a business has its certification revoked, continuing to display certification signs may result in additional penalties.