Business owners in Butte, Montana are frustrated with what they consider to be excessive permit fees. Carrie Fisher, the owner of Taco Del Sol and Pita Pit, explains that both the city and county require her to pay $700 per year in order to obtain permission to place chairs and tables on the sidewalk outside her restaurant. These fees were implemented due to recently amended ordinances related to parklets and pellets, which extend to curbs and roads. While Fisher agrees that permits are necessary to maintain ADA accessibility, she believes that the $700 annual fee is unreasonable.
To address this issue, Fisher has created a petition calling for a common sense solution to the permit fee problem. She has already received support from dozens of residents and other business owners in Butte. Fisher also notes that the same fee in other Montana towns is much lower, ranging from $20 to $50 for permission to place tables and chairs on the sidewalk.
As this story develops, updates will be provided.