Refunds—Local enterprise zones.
Riverside Municipal Code § 3.14.166
in effect3.14.166 - Refunds—Local enterprise zones.
A. A refund in accordance with the following schedule of utility user's taxes due and paid under the provisions of this chapter for utility services rendered on or after the establishment of a local enterprise zone by resolution of the City Council for the area encompassing said user shall be made as hereinafter provided to those new industrial or commercial developments located within said local enterprise zone, excluding retail firms, creating at least five new permanent jobs and to those existing industrial or commercial developments located within said local enterprise zone, excluding retail firms, which have expanded after the designation of said local enterprise zone which expansion results in an increase of ten percent in the number of permanent jobs for that business at that location subject to a minimum increase of five additional jobs; provided, however, that those businesses seeking to qualify for the reduction will be required to add value to the existing assessed valuation of the subject property by investing at least $500,000.00 over a five-year period in new construction and/or tenant improvements; and further provided that the refunds for those existing industrial or commercial developments which are expanding shall be limited to that portion of the utility user's tax attributable to such expansion and not to the existing development.
The schedule of refunds for each qualifying business is as follows: a refund of 75 percent in the first year following the opening of a new business or the expansion of an existing business; a refund of 50 percent in the second year; and a refund of 25 percent in the third year. No refunds shall be given in the fourth or any following year.
B. To claim a refund, the claimant must submit a verified claim in writing to the Finance Department at City Hall upon a form provided by the Tax Administrator and with such supporting documentation as may be required by the Tax Administrator to establish the amount of utility user's taxes paid by the claimant for the period claimed, and the commencement date of the "first year" as that term is used herein. A claim for a refund shall be submitted annually not later than three months after the close of the year for which such refund is sought. The verified claim must be signed by an authorized officer of the claimant. The claim will be paid in accordance with the City's usual accounting procedures following the approval of the claim by the Tax Administrator as being in conformance with the provisions of this section.
C. "First year" as used in this section shall mean for a new industrial or commercial development, the 12-month period immediately following the date of commencement of business at the location for which a claim for refund is filed; and for the expansion of an existing business, the 12-month period immediately following the date the required number of additional employees report to work at the location for which a claim is filed.
D. "Retail firm" as used in this section shall mean a firm or business which derives 50 percent or more of its gross receipts from direct and final sales of goods or services to the general public.
E. "Local enterprise zone" shall mean those economically depressed areas of the City so designated as a local enterprise zone from time to time by resolution of the City Council, the boundaries of which are specifically described in said resolution.
(Ord. 6168 § 1, 1994)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT3REFI_CH3.14UTUSTA_3.14.166REOCENZOFetched: 11/1/2026