(a) An applicant for an escort service license shall file an application with the Building Commissioner of the City of North Royalton accompanied by a non-refundable application fee.
(b) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the application shall contain the name and address of the person and the following information about the applicant, any person financially interested in the activity to be licensed, any authorized local agents, and any managing employee of the Business to be licensed:
(1) The name, including any aliases, business trade names or styles;
(2) Present residence and business addresses and telephone number, as applicable;
(3) Each residence and business address for the five year period immediately preceding the date of filing of the application and the inclusive dates of each such address;
(4) Ohio driver's license;
(5) Valid proof of age and that the applicant is at least eighteen (18) years of age;
(6) Height, weight, color of eyes and hair and date of birth,
(7) Two (2), current front-face portraits 2" X 2" photographs;
(8) The business, occupation or employment history for the three year period immediately preceding the date of the filing of the application;
(9) Information as to whether such individual or business has ever been refused any similar license or permit or has had any similar license or permit issued to such individual or business in North Royalton or elsewhere revoked or suspended, and the reasons therefor;
(10) All prior criminal convictions excepting minor traffic offenses;
(11) Fingerprints;
(12) If the applicant is a corporation, the name of the corporation shall be set forth exactly as shown in its articles of Incorporation or charter together with the state and date of incorporation, and the names, residence addresses, and dates of birth of each of its current officers and directors, and each stockholder holding more than five (5) percent of the stock in the corporation. If the applicant is a partnership, the applicant shall set forth the names, residence addresses and dates or birth of each of the partners, including limited partners and profit interest holders. If the applicant is a limited partnership, the applicant shall furnish a copy of the certificate of limited partnership. If one or more of the partners is a corporation, the provisions of this subsection pertaining to corporations shall apply. The corporation or partnership applicant shall designate one of its officers or general partners to act as its responsible managing officer. Such designated person shall complete and sign all application forms required of an individual applicant under this ordinance, but only one application fee shall be charged;
(13) A description of any service to be provided together with a declaration that the services to be provided shall not involve those of a sexually oriented escort or escort service;
(14) The names and residential addresses of all persons employed as escorts;
(c) Within five days of receipt of an application, the Building Commissioner shall notify the North Royalton Police Chief, the North Royalton Fire Chief, and the Building Department of such application. In making such notification, the Building Commissioner shall request that the Police Chief promptly investigate the information provided in the application concerning the criminal background of the applicant(s), and shall request that the Fire Chief and Building Department promptly inspect the premises for which the license is sought to assess compliance with the regulations under their respective jurisdictions. The Police Chief and the Fire Chief shall begin their respective investigations and inspection processes promptly upon receipt of notice of an application from the Building Commissioner. The Police Chief shall provide the results of his investigation to the Building Commissioner, in writing, within ten (10) days of receipt of notice of the application. The Fire Chief shall provide to the Building Commissioner a written certification of whether the premises are in compliance with the Fire Code within ten (10) days of receipt of notice of the application. The Building Commissioner shall commence the inspection of the premises for which a license is sought promptly upon receipt of the application, and shall complete a written certification of whether the premises are in compliance with the Building Code, the Planning and Zoning Code, and the provisions of this chapter related to physical characteristics of the premises within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the application. Within twenty-one (21) days after receipt of a completed license application, the Building Commissioner shall approve or deny the issuance of the license.
(d) The Building Commissioner shall grant the license upon the following circumstances:
(1) The required fees have been paid;
(2) The application conforms in all respects to the provisions of this section;
(3) The applicant has not made a material misrepresentation of fact in the application;
(4) That neither the applicant, if an individual; nor any person financially interested if a corporation; nor any of the partners, including limited partners, nor the holder of any profit interest, nor the manager or other person principally in charge of the operation of the existing or proposed escort service, nor any individual employed or contracted with to be an escort or to provide escort services has been convicted of, pleaded nolo contendere to or guilty to any felony, or to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, prostitution, offense involving sexual conduct with children, soliciting for purposes of prostitution, pandering, keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, other offense opposed to decency and morality, within five years prior to the issuance of the license;
(5) The applicant has not had a license similar to the one issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter issued by another authority, suspended or revoked within the five year period immediately preceding the date of the filing of the application;
(6) The escort service complies with all applicable laws of the City of North Royalton and state of Ohio; and
(7) The applicant, manager or other person principally in charge of the operation of the business is at least eighteen (18) years of age.
(8) The Building Commissioner shall deny the license application if all of the requirements set forth in subsections A through H of this subsection have not been met. In the event of denial, the applicant shall be notified by mail of the denial and the reasons therefor. The applicant may appeal such denial to the Board of Zoning Appeals who shall have the authority to sustain, amend or reverse the decision of the Building Commissioner.
(Ord. 99-102. Passed 6-15-99.)