A council plans to introduce charges of up to £500 for pavement licences and Mid Sussex businesses wishing to comment on the proposal have one month to do so.
The licences allow the likes of cafés, bars and restaurants to place tables and chairs outside their premises.
Before the pandemic, such licences were the remit of West Sussex County Council, which charged around the same amount.
But things changed during the coronavirus pandemic, with Mid Sussex District Council being handed responsibility for processing applications and renewals.
This was a temporary arrangement brought in in 2020 to help keep businesses afloat while observing social distancing rules.
The charge since then has been £100 – but, with the temporary arrangement being made permanent, new fees are being explored.
New legislation has increased the duration of licences to two years and gives the council the right to charge up to £500 for new applications and £350 for renewals.
The council said that it would make no money from the charges which would simply cover its costs.
A consultation on the plans will run until Sunday 29 September. For details, visit www.midsussex.gov.uk .
