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Palo Alto Overview
Palo Alto Municipal Code
PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
Title 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title 2 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE*
Title 3 RESERVED
Title 4 BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS*
Title 5 HEALTH AND SANITATION*
Title 6 ANIMALS
Title 7 RESERVED
Title 8 TREES AND VEGETATION
Title 9 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY*
Title 10 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC*
Title 11 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
Title 12 PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Title 13 IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE*
Title 14 RESERVED
Title 15 FIRE PREVENTION*
Title 16 BUILDING REGULATIONS*
Title 17 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE*
Title 18 ZONING*
Title 19 MASTER PLAN*
Title 20 PRECISE PLANS*
Title 21 SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND*
Title 22 PARKS*
ORDINANCE LIST AND DISPOSITION TABLE
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4.60.050   Fee required.
   (a)   Every person engaging in business in the city shall pay a business registration fee as prescribed by resolution adopted by the city council.
   (b)   The business registration fee is not a revenue raising device, but shall bear a reasonable relationship to the service to be performed by the city and the costs incurred by the city in reviewing, processing and acting upon the application.
   (c)   The city council shall, from time to time, review the resolution fixing the business registration fee and may revoke, modify, adjust, add or determine any amount or rate of such business registration fee.
(Ord. 5279 § 1 (part), 2014)
4.60.060   Application procedures.
   Every person operating a business in the city shall apply to obtain a business registration certificate on a form prescribed by the city. Upon receipt of a completed application and any fee required, the city shall process the application and issue a business registration certificate. The application may be reviewed by other city departments or governmental agencies to determine if the business premises to be occupied meet the requirements of federal, state, and local laws.
(Ord. 5279 § 1 (part), 2014)
4.60.070   Contents of business registration certificate.
   (a)   Upon receipt of a completed application and payment of the prescribed business registration fee, the city shall issue to the applicant a business registration certificate which shall contain the following:
   (1)   Name of business;
   (2)   Business location;
   (3)   Expiration date;
   (4)   Certificate Number; and
   (5)   Such other information as deemed necessary by the city.
   (b)   A separate certificate may be obtained for each and every branch establishment or separate place of business in which a business is carried on.
(Ord. 5279 § 1 (part), 2014)
4.60.080   Term and annual renewal of business registration.
   (a)   Term. A business registration certificate shall be effective for no more than one year. Unless otherwise specified, all certificates shall expire on March 31st. Business registration fees shall be due and payable annually in advance.
   (b)   Renewal. Business registration certificates shall be renewed annually on a form prescribed by the city. Every application for the renewal of a certificate shall be made at least fifteen days prior to the expiration date of such license. Any person applying to renew a business registration shall submit to the city a completed renewal application and pay the renewal fee.
   (c)   Alternative Periods. If deemed necessary, the city may establish alternative registration periods for businesses.
(Ord. 5279 § 1 (part), 2014)
4.60.090   Refunds.
   No business registration fees or penalties collected shall be refundable.
(Ord. 5279 § 1 (part), 2014)
4.60.100   Rules and regulations.
   The City Manager may adopt rules and regulations from time to time to implement this chapter. Implementing rules and regulations shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 5279 § 1 (part), 2014)
4.60.120   Penalties and remedies.
   (a)   Penalties for Delinquency. Any person engaging in business in the city that fails to secure a business registration certificate before commencing business in the city or fails to timely renew their license shall pay, in addition to the amount of the license fee, a penalty in an amount to be determined by ordinance or resolution.
   (b)   Action to Collect. If a business fails to comply with the fee requirements of this action, the city may refer the matter to a collection agency and/or the city attorney may file a civil action against any business. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, should court action be required to collect any business registration fee and/or penalties, an additional penalty shall be charged equal to the cost incurred by the city for court action, including but not limited to reasonable attorney fees. All penalties shall be added to the business registration fee and shall become due and payable along with the delinquent business registration fee.
   (c)   Remedies Cumulative. All remedies prescribed under this Chapter shall be cumulative and the use of one or more remedies by the city shall not bar the use of any other remedy for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Chapter.
(Ord. 5279 § 1 (part), 2014)