FAQs

Where did BIDs come from?

The first BID (or Business Improvement Area, as they are known in Canada) was established in Toronto in 1970, and BIDs reached the United States a few years later with the formation of the Downtown Development District in New Orleans in 1975. Since then, BIDs have spread throughout Canada and the United States and South Africa as well as to New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Jamaica, Serbia, and Albania. There are now around 1000 BIDs worldwide, approximately half of them in the United States.

The top 5 cities with BIDs:
• New York (50)
• Toronto (40+)
• Los Angeles (30+)
• Vancouver (20+)
• Philadelphia/Cape Town (10+)

What are the key differences for BIDs in the UK?

In the United States and South Africa the BID levy is usually a tax on property owners, whereas the English legislation allows only for the BID levy to be imposed on business ratepayers, as occupiers of property. This does not preclude property owners making voluntary contributions to the BID. For more information on BIDs in other countries, see Worldwide BIDs.

Do BIDs have to be in town centres?

Although most BIDs are currently in town centres, UKBIDs anticipates that in future more and more BIDs will be developed in non-centres, whether they are industrial estates, business parks or Area Travel Plan Partnerships. Therefore as the demand grows, UKBIDs will respond to the needs of non-town centre BIDs with dedicated information sharing and Network Exchange opportunities.

How are void properties to be addressed?

Whoever pays the Business Rate is responsible for paying the levy.