Livermore Caps Food Delivery Fees

LIVERMORE, CA — As more residents turn to restaurant delivery amid the coronavirus pandemic, the city has signed an emergency order to place a 15 percent cap on fees charged to restaurants by third-party delivery services.

Livermore restaurants, which already operated on thin margins, were hit even harder by the pandemic, the city said in its emergency order. Many turned to third-party delivery services, which can charge 10 to 30 percent of the order.

Restaurants say these fees have increased in recent months and California's anti-gouging laws do not protect cover delivery services, the city said.

"Every Livermore restaurant has been affected by the pandemic with some now straining to pay even basic operating costs," the city said.

San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, San Leandro and Marin County have passed similar caps on food delivery service fees, according to the city.

Read the full order here.