For the first time in decades, Atlanta Fire Rescue has raised its fire safety inspection fees, the department announced on its Facebook page. Based on the recommendations of the city of Atlanta Blue Ribbon Commission on Waste & Efficiency, the fee increase is necessary in order for the department to recover the costs of providing the inspections, the announcement said. A $25 processing fee remains unchanged.
The new fees are as follows:
$200 Business with up to 3,000 square feet
$250 Business having 3,001 square feet to 5,000 square feet
$300 Business having 5,001 square feet to 10,000 square feet
$350 Business having more than 10,000 square feet
$450 High-rise structures up to 70,000 square feet
$650 High-rise structures with more than 70,001 square feet
The increase comes months after business owners complained about backlogs in obtaining fire permits in the city of Atlanta.
Some business owners told Channel 2 Action News back in April that they are required to wait for more than a month just to obtain an appointment for a Fire Plan Review.
A city spokeswoman said at the time that the department was in the process of adding temporary staff to clear the plan review backlog of 40-50 pending applications, with a long-term goal of permanent staff increases to ensure that the backlog would not re-created.
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