Firms Hit by Quake Get Fee Extension

The owners of businesses that were damaged in the Northridge quake will have an extra 10 weeks to pay license fees under a proposal approved by the Los Angeles City Council.

The relief plan, drafted by Councilmen Zev Yaroslavsky and Joel Wachs and passed Tuesday, extends the date at which taxes are considered delinquent to May 15. Normally, the fees for business licenses are due Feb. 1 and become delinquent March 1.

The proposal also waives penalties and interest that the city would normally add to late payments.

The council on Tuesday also approved a recommendation by Councilwoman Laura Chick to waive all city permit fees for home and business owners who want to rebuild quake-damaged buildings.

But the city will not lose revenue under the proposal because the Federal Emergency Management Agency has offered to reimburse the city for the lost fees.