All Non-Life Sustaining Businesses Ordered to Shut Down in PA

The governmental order, which will remain in effect until further notice, applies whether or not the business is open to the public, but allows “virtual or telework operations (e.g., work from home), so long as social distancing and other mitigation measures are followed in such operations.”

Non-life sustaining businesses include law firms, real estate brokerages and offices, accounting and tax preparation firms, and architectural and engineering firms, among many other categories of businesses. Furthermore, the construction of buildings is also considered non-life sustaining.

For a full list of life sustaining businesses, please click here.

Enforcement actions against businesses that fail to comply will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2020, and could include criminal imprisonment, as well as civil citations, fines, or license suspensions. Furthermore, businesses that fail or refuse to comply could also forfeit their ability to receive any applicable disaster relief and/or may be subject to other appropriate administrative action. Such action may include termination of state loan or grant funding and/or suspension or revocation of licensure for violation of the law.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the extent and the applicability of these newly imposed restrictions placed on business activities in Pennsylvania, please email us at contact@nochumson.com and, in the email, provide your name and contact information and a short summary of what you need to know and an attorney at Nochumson P.C. will respond accordingly.