Fees Increasing For Food, Waste, Other Permits Across Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA - The Board of Supervisors voted this week to increase fees charged by the Department of Environmental Health for permits to sell food, operate tattoo parlors, store public waste and conduct other activities that require the county's stamp of approval.

In a 4-0 vote without comment, the board approved Environmental Health Director Steve Van Stockum's request to raise permit fees by 2 percent in the next fiscal year, reflecting a corresponding increase in the region's consumer price index last year.

"The Department of Environmental Health certifies that the 2 percent adjustment in fees will be sufficient to meet the department's 2017-18 budget needs of the programs funded by those fees," Van Stockum said in a statement posted to the board's policy agenda.

A county ordinance passed in 2014 authorizes the department to modify fees to keep up with inflation.

DEH officials anticipate the agency will be saddled with nearly $1 million in additional costs in 2017-18, due mainly to greater internal service charges, as well as higher labor expenses stemming from union contracts. The fee hikes will net about $450,000 in additional revenue.

Under the new fee schedule, obtaining a permit to operate the following will change as listed below:

• a restaurant will cos $720 annually, compared to $706 now
• a tavern permit will go from $967 to $986
• a produce stand permit will go from $360 to $367
• a vending machine permit will go from $73 to $74
• a public swimming pool permit will go from $392 to $399
• a septic tank truck permit will go from $335 to $341
• a solid waste storage facility permit will go from $3,958 to $4,037
• a body art facility permit will go from $237 to $241

Van Stockum said businesses "will be moderately impacted" by the higher fees.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock