CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to regulations of food delivery platforms; establishing requirements for food delivery platforms providing delivery services to restaurants; and amending Chapter 7.30 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, Seattle has over 4,000 active business licenses for restaurants, caterers, and other businesses in the food industry; and
WHEREAS, the 2016 Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs estimates that nearly 48 percent of the owners of firms in the accommodation and food services industry in the Seattle metropolitan area identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; and
WHEREAS, many restaurants use food delivery platforms to access the growing share of consumers who rely on delivery platforms to obtain meals from restaurants and these food delivery platform charge restaurants fees to facilitate pick-up and delivery of food and/or beverage orders; and
WHEREAS, beginning in early 2020, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health, the Washington Governor issued a series of restrictions on indoor dining capacity that caused Seattle restaurants to rely more on takeout and delivery to serve consumers; and
WHEREAS, on April 27, 2020, the Council adopted a modified civil emergency order issued by the Mayor on April 24, 2020, prohibiting food delivery platforms from charging restaurants a commission fee exceeding 15 percent of the purchase price of an online pick-up or delivery order; and
WHEREAS, on November 25, 2020, the Washington Governor enacted Proclamation 20-76, prohibiting food delivery platforms from charging restaurants, or similar food establishments, a delivery fee totaling more than 15 percent of the purchase price of an online order or a total fee amount for the use of all food delivery platform services totaling more than 18 percent of the purchase price of an online order; and
WHEREAS, on June 21, 2021, the Washington Governor rescinde...
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