1) The business was open and operating on or prior to Hurricane Sandy (October 26, 2012).
2) The business is:

a. A City-licensed or permitted vehicle rendered inoperable as a result of Hurricane Sandy, OR
b. Located in space within a building:

• in Hurricane Evacuation Zones A or B (Find out if your business is in Zone A or B
• within a Business Recovery Zone, OR

Brooklyn Queens Waterfront DUMBO BRZ Map
Brooklyn Queens Waterfront Greenpoint Newtown BRZ Map
Brooklyn Queens Waterfront Red Hook Sunset Park Impact BRZ Map
South Brooklyn BRZ Map
Southeast Queens Howard Beach BRZ Map
Southeast Queens Rockaways BRZ Map
Lower Manhattan BRZ Map
Staten Island Midland Beach BRZ Map
Staten Island Tottenville BRZ Map 

• inspected by the Department of Buildings during the Department’s structural damage assessment and for which a red, yellow or green plaque was issued. 

3) The business:

a. currently occupies or intends to re-occupy space in the same building that it occupied prior to Hurricane Sandy; OR
b. has relocated or is relocating to space within the same Business Recovery Zone; OR
c. intends to replace a City-licensed or permitted vehicle rendered inoperable as a result of Hurricane Sandy. 

Note: A building is not considered a business for the purpose of this program. 

Which fees will be waived or refunded?
The City will waive fees related to repair and reconstruction of space occupied or to be occupied by the business. Fees will be waived for the alteration or repair of systems serving only the business space and that are owned by the business. 

City agencies participating in the fee waiver program and some of the fees that may be waived:

• Department of Buildings
  Application, permit and inspection fees for plumbing, scaffolds, sidewalk sheds, fences, signs, boilers, demolition, elevators, construction, limited alteration application and after hours variances
  
  
• Department of Consumer Affairs
  Special Sales License, Tow Truck Replacement Inspection, Pedicab Inspection
  
  
• Fire Department
  Inspection and testing of liquid motor fuel dispensing system installations; acceptance testing of fire protection systems, including fire alarm systems, fire extinguishing systems and fire pumps; review of design and installation documents for liquid motor fuel dispensing systems and fire protection systems.
  
  
• Department of Environmental Protection
  Asbestos Review Tracking System, Boiler Registration, Certificate of Operation, Demolition Registration, Registration to Operate a Portable Generator, Gasoline Dispensing Sites, Spray Painting Requirements
  
  
• Landmarks Preservation Commission
  Certificate of appropriateness and certificate of no effect.
  
  
• Department of Small Business Services
  Waterfront construction work, equipment use permit, mooring permit, fill work permit and certificate of completion.
  
  
• Department of Transportation
  Street opening permits, building operations and construction activity permit, debris container, sidewalk construction permit, vault permit and canopy permit.
  
  
• Taxi and Limousine Commission
  Replacement vehicle license plates, replacement medallions, transfer of vehicle licenses and for-hire vehicle inspections
  

How does a business owner apply for a waiver or a refund?
Business owners must apply to the Restoration Business Acceleration Team (RBAT) for certification of eligibility for the waiver or a refund. The application is available here.  

If you are eligible for the fee waiver, RBAT will return your certification to you in the manner requested. You can use this form to have your fees waived at each agency.

Can a business owner receive a refund of fees already paid?
Eligible fees paid prior to February 20, 2013 may be refunded. A business owner should seek a certification of eligibility (described above) from RBAT and then apply to any agencies already paid for a refund.

Questions? Need other assistance with rebuilding? Contact RBAT by calling (212) 788-6722.