It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to drill or commence operations for the drilling of an oil or gas well or to operate the same within the city limits without having first obtained from the governing body one of the following licenses or permits.
(A) Before commencing the drilling of an oil and gas well within the city, the person, firm, or corporation desiring to drill a well shall first obtain a permit from the city. The applicant shall, at the time of making application for the drilling permit, deposit with the City Clerk a fee as set forth in Chapter 38, Fee Schedule, payable to the city. If the city grants the application, the fee shall be retained by the city. If a license is not granted, the city shall retain the sum as set forth in Chapter 38, Fee Schedule for administrative expenses and the balance of the fee shall be returned to the applicant.
(B) No permit or renewal permit shall be assigned or transferred to any other person, firm, or corporation unless a notice of transfer is filed with the city, giving the name of the assignee. A fee as set forth in Chapter 38, Fee Schedule shall accompany the notice of transfer. No transfer shall be complete until all of the requirements of this section shall have been met.
(C) The permit for any well that has been determined to be a dry well by the permitter is terminated upon determination. The permittee shall furnish the city with the information. If any well that has been determined to be a dry well is reworked, reopened, or work done to make it a producing well, the owner of the well shall first obtain an original permit for drilling a well before commencing the rework, reopening or any similar activity.
(D) All persons, firms, or corporations having obtained a license for oil or gas wells within the city, which wells are producing oil or gas, shall pay an annual license renewal fee as set forth in Chapter 38, Fee Schedule per each well which continues to produce oil or gas at any time during the calendar year. The fee shall be due and payable by December 31 of each year and shall be paid to the City Clerk.
(Prior Code, § 10-1701) Penalty, see § 10.99