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City Council - City of Clearwater

CITY COUNCIL

CITY OF CLEARWATER

ORDINANCE NO. 2021-08

AMENDING CHAPTER 18, PART I

OF THE CLEARWATER CITY CODE

THE CITY OF CLEARWATER HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:

City Code Part I, Chapter 18 – Licenses, Permits, and Miscellaneous Business Regulations, is hereby renamed “Business Regulations”.

City Code Part I, Chapter 18, Article II – Licensing Procedure, is hereby repealed and replaced with the following:

Sec. 18-19 - Business Registration.

(a)  Purpose.  The purpose and intent of this section is to annually register all businesses within the City of Clearwater. To provide general contact information, emergency contact information, hazardous material information and any review that may be necessary.

(b)  Definition.  For purposes of this section, “business” means to engage in any trade, profession, industry, sales of goods or services, or other commercial activity.  Businesses can be for-profit entities or non-profit organizations that operate to fulfill a charitable mission or further a social cause.

(c)  Approval required.

(1) No person or entity who endeavors to conduct business within the city shall occupy any land or building within the city without first obtaining a business registration certificate.

(2) Persons or entities who conduct business and occupy land or a building within the city prior to the effective date of this section shall obtain a business registration certificate within 30 days of the effective date of this section.

(3) Responsibility. Both the property owner and the lessee shall be responsible for securing the business registration certificate.

(4) Approval of the business registration certificate. The city shall approve the business registration certificate if the use is legal per this chapter and complies with the zoning code and all state and local codes and licensing requirements.

(5) Revocation of a business registration certificate. Any false statement submitted to the city for approval of a business registration certificate shall automatically revoke the business registration certificate. After the city has determined false information was received, the city shall notify the owner and lessee that the registration has been revoked. The notification shall also inform the owner and lessee that they have ten days to either obtain a new registration or terminate use of the land or building. If the use continues without a valid business registration certificate, both the landowner and tenant shall be in violation of this section.

(6) Failure to register. The city reserves the right to refuse review or approval of any permit or zoning request made by an unregistered person or entity who conducts or endeavors to conduct business and occupies land or a building with the city.

            (d)  Registration.

(1) Application.  Persons wishing to apply for a business registration certificate shall apply annually by completing an application form and submitting it to City Hall for approval.  Each application that is not for a home-based business shall provide the occupancy limit set by the local Fire Marshal for the business premises.

(2) Application Fee. All business registrations shall include payment of an application fee prior to issuance of the business registration certificate.  The fee is set by the City Council in the city’s Fee Schedule Ordinance.

(2) Certificate.  A business registration certificate showing the occupancy limit of the business premises shall be issued upon approval of the application.  The occupancy limit is not required for home-based businesses.  Each business that has a certificate issued shall be listed in the local business listings maintained by City Hall.

Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and publication, which is hereby authorized by the City Council.

ADOPTED THIS 14th DAY OF JUNE 2021

ATTEST:

/s/ Andrea Lawrence, Mayor

/s/ Annita M. Smythe, City Administrator

(Published in the Patriot: 06/19/21).