(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain and operate a hotel in the City without first procuring a license therefor from the City Controller. There shall be no fee for this license. No person shall operate or permit the operation of a hotel when the license thereof has been suspended, revoked or expired.
(B) Each license issued pursuant to this section shall be issued for annual periods and shall be renewed automatically by the City Controller and without application for renewal by the licensee, unless the license at the time of renewal has been revoked or suspended, or is the subject of administrative or judicial proceedings which have the potential to result in the revocation or suspension of the license as provided in this chapter. All annual licenses issued by the City Controller for an existing or new hotel shall expire on January 1 of the following calendar year. All renewals shall be dated on or as of January 1 of the year of issuance.