Board approves change to e-permit fees: flat $25 per day for off-premise event permits

The Fargo Liquor Control Board voted Sept. 1 to change event-permit (e-permit) fees to a flat $25 per day for each day the permit is used, rather than a $25 base plus $10 per day structure. The change matters to licensees who temporarily remove licensed alcohol service from their licensed premises for events, since the fee structure determines how venues price permits for weddings, market appearances or customer-appreciation events. Steve Sprague, who presented the item, said the board’s current fee was $25 plus $10 per day and that the proposed change would simplify billing to a straight $25 per day (for example, a three-day permit would cost $75). Sprague told the board the $25 rate is “the cap that the state allows us to charge on a n e permit,” and that most venues pass the fee through to the event host. A board member moved to approve the change and another seconded the motion. The board called for the question and the motion carried. Board members noted that e-permits are routed to police, fire and health staff as part of the review process; Sprague said routing and interagency review would continue. The change will also go to the City Commission for formal adoption, Sprague said. The board’s action at the meeting was a final approval of the fee-change recommendation; no other amendments were recorded in the meeting transcript. — Reporting is based on the Liquor Control Board meeting transcript and on a staff presentation by Steve Sprague.