Mission Viejo initiates fee waiver program to benefit new businesses

In an ongoing effort to encourage and support new business in Mission Viejo, the City Council has approved a fee deferral program to assist businesses going through the City’s building permit process.                  

The new program waives the fee for a Certificate of Occupancy permit, when there is a change in business name and/or ownership.  This is a fairly common permit, especially with smaller “mom and pop” businesses, which tend to occupy a new lease space but don’t need tenant improvement work.  The Certificate of Occupancy permit typically costs $217 and involves one or two on-site inspections by the City’s Building Division. 

The City’s Building Division contractor, Charles Abbott Associates (CAA,) has generously agreed to forgo its due payment from the City for these permits, thus reducing the impact of the proposed fee waiver program on the City’s budget; a savings of approximately $11,000 per year.

The program will kick off on July 1.  For more information, call 949-470-3054 or email bldgservices@cityofmissionviejo.org.