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The City of Albuquerque is waiving and refunding some business permitting fees for this year, Mayor Tim Keller announced at a Thursday news briefing.
Fees to be waived or refunded include restaurant inspection fees, commercial swimming pool fees and fees for food truck permits and growers market permits.
Restaurants wanting to expand outdoor seating capacity will also not have to pay a fee.
“We’re trying to waive as many fees as we can for trying to get businesses and restaurants to reopen,” Keller said at the event.
In a written statement after the briefing, Keller said the city is trying to help relieve some of the pressure placed on local businesses affected by the pandemic.
Businesses that had already paid 2020 permit fees will automatically be refunded, according to city spokeswoman Jessie Damazyn.
The move is one of several initiatives aimed at supporting the local economy and recovery efforts, Damazyn said in a news release. The mayor also announced a contract with a local nonprofit to provide masks for all essential city employees and a grant that will go toward early childhood education.
