North Bay City Council is allowing businesses that put up a new or expanded patio not to pay any municipal fees this year.

This exemption to paying for things like building permit fees will be in place until Thanksgiving.

Councillor Dave Mendicino says it is being done to help businesses begin to recover due to COVID-19.

“They are given the opportunity to expand their patios as much as they can. Anything to support them and anything to bring local business to the restaurants. They need it so much,” he says.

Deputy Mayor Tanya Vrebosch says the fees also go for things like city approval as part of the liquor license and the cost to rent parking spots.

As well, council supported the expansion of the existing Sidewalk Patio Program in the Downtown to support the use of sidewalks for outdoor retail space .

For an up-to-date list of COVID-19-affected municipal services and facilities, please visit https://www.cityofnorthbay.ca/covid-19-information

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: fees, North Bay City Council, patios