Fire Protection District Suspends Small Business Fees Until 2021

SAN RAMON, CA – Small businesses located within the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District will not have fees and charges associated with annual operating permits collected, fire protection officials recently announced.

The suspension of fee collection goes into effect immediately after the fire protection district’s board of directors voted last week to approve the measure in order to provide local small business owners relief from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Permit fees will not be collected again until June 30, 2021.

Although fire inspections will still take place, business owners will not be charged for the service. The change does not include governmental agencies, public utilities or large commercial businesses such as big box stores, national retailers. The suspension of fee collection also does not include fees for development-related services.

“We recognize that many of our small businesses are really struggling to stay afloat as a result of the shutdown, and we as a Fire District do not want to add to that struggle,” fire protection district Vice President Matt Stamey said in a news release. “We hope that suspending the annual fire operating permit fee for the next year will provide a little economic relief and help with their recovery.”

Requests for information regarding the suspension of fees should be directed to San Ramon Battalion Chief John Duggan: JDuggan@srvfire.ca.gov.