New Hampshire summer camps that temporarily shut down or limited operations because of the coronavirus won’t have to fear permanent closure for running afoul of zoning ordinances.

Gov. Chris Sununu issued an emergency order Thursday that affects camps that pre-date their local zoning ordinances and are allowed to operate as “pre-existing nonconforming uses.” In many towns and cities, however, properties can lose that status if they are closed for 12 months.

Sununu’s order prevents municipalities from discontinuing a camp’s status if it closed, shortened its season or opened at reduced capacity because of the virus. He said the order would protect camps from uncertainty, expensive litigation and potential closure.