Whenever any original occupation license shall have been lost or destroyed, it shall be the duty of the city clerk, on application in writing by the owner thereof, to issue a duplicate of the same and file with the city clerk; provided, that the same has been lost or destroyed, without any connivance on his part, and that he has made diligent search for the same and that he has not been able to find it. (1980 Code § 5-7)