City Agrees to Kill 7% Fee Surcharge

Faced with outrage from San Fernando Valley residents, the Los Angeles City Council agreed Friday to kill a 7% surcharge on some permits issued away from City Hall.

One West Valley resident complained about the cost of a permit to store building materials at the curb in front of his house.

The 7% surcharge was applied to permits issued in the Valley, West Los Angeles and the Harbor. City officials said the fee was based on the extra cost associated with issuing permits in field offices away from City Hall, but critics said it was not fair to people who could not conveniently go to City Hall for permits.

“Why should someone have to drive all the way downtown in order to avoid paying a surcharge?” Chick asked. The Department of Public Works has suspended the fee, pending a final vote on an ordinance, ordered drafted Friday by the City Council, that would take the surcharge off the books.