A. Annual license renewals not paid by February 15 shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) plus the license fee. Any license renewal not made before March 15 shall be subject to an additional penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) plus the license fee. Any license renewal (including penalties) not made after March 15 may be collected by civil action in any court of this state having jurisdiction or subject to criminal action set forth below.
B. Any person, firm, or corporation who has commenced or carried on any business, trade, or occupation specified in this chapter before obtaining a business license shall be assessed a double license fee, which double assessment shall be paid before a license shall be issued.
C. The licensing clerk shall have the authority to call upon other departments of the county to examine all places of business or persons required to obtain or maintain business licenses.
D. The licensing clerk shall monitor business activity within the county by locating existing or new businesses or persons that have either not applied for a new license or renewed an existing license. The clerk shall then, in writing, notify said businesses or persons of business license requirements and penalties. The clerk shall make reasonable attempts to encourage compliance.
E. At least once a year, the licensing clerk shall report to the county attorney all businesses or persons that have failed to obtain or renew business licenses. It shall be the duty of the county attorney to cause complaints to be filed against all persons violating any of the provisions of this chapter.
F. Any person who operates a business in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days, or both. Each week that person shall violate or continue to violate this chapter after written notice of such violation by the county or its officers or agents, shall be considered to be a separate violation and shall be punished as such. (Ord. 08-263, 4-14-2008; amd. Ord. 21-383, 2-8-2021; Ord. 24-406, 4-8-2024)