Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday repealed a pandemic-related restriction that limited the fees charged to restaurants by delivery companies as Washington state prepares for its reopening on June 30.

The proclamation, which went into effect on November 25, required services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub and others to cap their delivery charges at 15% and total charges at 18% of the purchase price. of an order. He followed similar legislation in Seattle and other American cities.

The Inslee proclamation also prohibited “the reduction in compensation to food delivery drivers, including the reduction in any amount of tips provided to delivery drivers resulting from the restrictions on commissions or delivery charges set out herein. stopped”.

But now, as all counties in Washington state prepare to lift COVID-19 rules and allow public spaces to return to full capacity, the delivery charge limit and compensation rule are no longer in effect. force.

The caps were intended to alleviate the financial hardship that small businesses face in connection with closure orders. Food delivery activities more than doubled during the pandemic, with governments approving stay-at-home warrants, remote working and school expanding and restaurant meals disappearing in places.

Initially, many restaurants adopted delivery companies as a way to sell food when their restaurants remained empty, but issues ranging from fees to uneven service quickly became a problem. For example, some restaurants have complained that delivery companies scratched menus and posted them on their own apps without asking managers or owners first.

In response, Seattle City Council earlier this month imposed new limits that would require delivery services to make deals with restaurants before allowing their users to order takeout.