BUSINESS LICENSE

Section 1. LICENSE REQUIRED

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A license shall be required of any person, firm, individual or corporation who shall in a brick and mortar setting or as a transient business, engage in, carry on, or follow any trade, business, profession, vocation or calling, within the corporate limits of the City of Clinton.

 

Section 2. LIABILITY

 

Any person, partnership, corporation or other entity shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter if by himself or through an agent, employee or partner he holds himself forth as being engaged in a business or occupation; or solicits patronage therefore, actively or passively; or performs or attempts to perform an part of such business or occupation in the city.

 

Section 3. EACH BUSINESS

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Any person, partnership, corporation or other entity having more than one place of business within the city shall obtain a license for each place of business. For the purpose of construing this chapter, more than one place of business shall mean any business operations conducted within two (2) or more separate buildings or upon two (2) or more separate tracts of real estate.

 

Section 4. APPLICATION

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Applications for all licenses required by this chapter shall be made in writing to the City Clerk. Each application shall state the name of the applicant, the location to be used, if any, the time covered, and the fee to be paid; and each application shall contain a copy of state sales tax permit, health department permit if applicable, and any such additional information as may be needed for the proper guidance of the city officials in issuing the license applied for. Each license issued shall bear the signature of the City Clerk and/or Mayor. All application required hereunder shall be kept and filed by the City Clerk.

 

Section 5. FEES

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All fees and charges for licenses shall be paid at the time application therefore is made to the City Clerk. All license fees shall become part of the city general fund under the Economic Development line item.

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Section 6. ZONING REGULATIONS

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No license shall be issued for the conduct of any business, if the premises and building to be used for the purpose do not fully comply with the requirements of the city. No such license shall be issued for the conduct of any business or performance of any act, which would involve a violation of the zoning ordinances of the city. Inspection by City Code Official is required prior to issuing of any license or opening of the location for business. A certificate of occupancy is required and will be issued if building and location are in compliance.

 

Section 8. CHANGE OF LOCATION

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The location of any licensed business or occupation, or of any permitted act, may be changed, provided ten (10) days of notice therefore is given to the City Clerk, in the absence of any provision to the contrary; provided that the building, zoning, and other ordinances of the city are complied with. All requirements of this ordinance must be followed for the new location.

 

Section 9. TRANSFERRING

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A license issued under this chapter shall not be transferable.

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Section 10. NUISANCE

 

No business, licensed or not, shall be so conducted or operated as to amount to a nuisance in fact; nor in violation of any ordinance of this city or state law.

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Section 11. INSPECTION

 

Whenever inspections of the premises used for or in connection with the operation of a licensed business or occupation are provided for or required by ordinance, or are reasonably necessary to secure compliance with any ordinance provision or to detect violation thereof, it shall be the duty of the licensee, or the person in charge of the premises to be inspected, to admit thereto, for the purpose of making the inspection, any officer or employee of the city who is authorized or directed to make such inspections at any reasonable time admission is requested. Before opening of any new business, inspections by the City Code Official is required, and the issuing of a Certificate of Occupancy must be issued prior to the opening of any new business.

 

Section 12. POSTING

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It shall be the duty of any person conducting a licensed business in the city to keep his license posted in a prominent place on the premises used for such business at all times. The holder of a license shall show the license to any officer or agent of the city upon request.

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Section 13. SCHEDULE

 

Any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, and other business entity who shall engage in, carry on, operate a trade, business, profession, or vocation of any kind within the corporate city limits of the City of Clinton shall pay a license fee of $25.00 and for each year thereafter, may pay an annual voluntary renewal fee of $25.00. The Clinton City Council may designate a portion of the monies derived from license fees to be used to promote the City of Clinton to attract new business. Each person shall procure said occupational license and pay the fee required within (3) days of the date of January 1st of each year or in the event of a person entering into business at any time after this date, said person shall procure the license and pay the fee required before the business is commenced. The same fee of $25.00 will be required regardless of the date the business begins throughout the year.

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Section 14. EFFECTIVE DATE

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This amended ordinance will be in effect immediately upon passage by the City Council. All existing business in operation at the time of passage will be grandfathered in, but must secure a business license within 90 days of passage of said ordinance, with NO FEE REQUIRED. The voluntary fee for existing businesses will begin on January 1, 2018 at the renewal date and every year thereafter for as long as they engage in business in the City of Clinton. All new businesses that are started during 2017 must secure a license as deemed necessary by this ordinance and meet all requirements therein with a fee of $25.00 due before beginning operation of said business.

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Section 15. EMERGENCY CLAUSE

 

Because of the potential for unsafe and/or unsanitary products and for all other reasons of the safety and health of its citizens and others, an emergency is hereby declared. The aforementioned concerns constitute a public hazard which threatens both citizens and property; THEREFORE, and emergency is hereby declared to exist and this ordinance, being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public, health, safety, and welfare, shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.

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PASSED May 11, 2017
Richard McCormac, Mayor
Dena R. Malone, Recorder/Treasurer