(A) County License Required: No person shall conduct business as a transient merchant within the city without first having obtained the appropriate license from the county and the city as required by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 329, as it may be amended from time to time, if the county issues a license for the activity.
(B) City License Or Registration Required: Except as otherwise provided for by this chapter, no person shall conduct business as a peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant without first having obtained a license from the city.
(C) Application: An application for a city license to conduct business as a peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant shall be made at least ten (10) regular business days before the applicant desires to begin conducting a business operation within the city. Application for a license shall be made on a form that is available on the City of Farmington website.
All applications shall include the following information:
1. The applicant's full legal name.
2. Any and all other names under which the applicant conducts business or to which the applicant officially answers to.
3. Complete and current personal contact information for the applicant.
4. Full legal name of any and all business operations owned, managed, or operated by the applicant, or for which the applicant is an employee or an agent.
5. Complete and current business contact information for the applicant (if any).
6. The type of business or activity for which the applicant is applying for a license.
7. The dates during which the applicant intends to conduct business.
8. The location(s) where an applicant intends to set up or otherwise conduct business.
9. Written permission of the property owner or the property owner's agent for any location to be used by a transient merchant.
10. A statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted within the last five (5) years of any felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor for violation of any state or federal statute or any local ordinance, other than minor traffic offenses.
11. A list of the three (3) most recent locations where the applicant has conducted business as a peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant.
12. Proof of any required county license.
13. A physical description of the applicant (hair color, eye color, height, weight, any distinguishing marks or features, and the like).
14. A general description of the items to be sold or services to be provided.
15. A color copy of the applicant's driver's license or other acceptable form of photo identification (copy must be of both sides of the driver's license or identification).
16. The license plate number, registration information, description, and vehicle identification number (VIN) for any vehicle(s) to be used in conjunction with the licensed business operation.
17. Any and all additional information as may be deemed necessary by the City Clerk.
18. Applications must be signed by and submitted in person by the applicant. A valid photo ID is required.
19. Large groups (four (4) or more applicants) require an appointment with the City Clerk.
(D) Fee: All applications for a license under this chapter shall be accompanied by the fees established in Chapter 12; 8-12-4
: Fees and Charges Schedule. Fees must be paid at time of application and cannot be prorated.
(E) Investigation: A background investigation is required for peddlers, solicitors, and transient merchants.
(F) Procedur: Licenses will be approved pursuant to city code. The city may approve a license with reasonable conditions, as deemed necessary.
Upon receipt of the application and payment of the license fee, the City Clerk will, within two (2) regular business days, determine if the application is complete.
1. An application will be considered complete if all required information is provided. If the City Clerk determines that the application is incomplete, the City Clerk must inform the applicant of the required, necessary information that is missing.
2. If the application is complete, the City Clerk must order any investigation, including background checks, necessary to verify the information provided with the application.
3. Within ten (10) regular business days of receiving a complete application, the City Clerk must issue the license unless grounds exist for denying the license application under section 3-18-4
, in which case the City Clerk must deny the request for a peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant license.
4. If the City Clerk denies the license application, the applicant must be notified in writing of the decision, the reason for denial, and the applicant's right to appeal the denial by requesting, within twenty (20) days of receiving notice of rejection, a public hearing before the City Council. The City Council shall hear the appeal within twenty (20) days of the date of the request for a hearing. The decision of the City Council following the public hearing can be appealed by petitioning the Minnesota Court of Appeals for a writ of certiorari.
(G) Term: Licenses shall be valid for one (1) calendar year.
1. Unless otherwise stated in the license, the effective date of the license is the date of issuance.
2. Unless otherwise stated on the license, a license granted under this article shall be valid only through December 31 of the current year in which it was granted.
(H) Special Event: Activities such as, but not limited to, exhibitions, carnivals, amusements, rides, circuses, tent shows, street dances, parades, and outdoor sales require a Temporary Outdoor Exhibition Permit, per city code Title 3, Chapter 17. (Ord. 023-778, 11-20-2023, eff. 1-1-2024)