A. Before any business registration certificate is issued to any person, firm or corporation, such person, firm or corporation shall make written application therefor to the City Clerk; such application must state the nature or kind of business, show, exhibition or game for which the registration certificate is required, the place where such business, show, exhibition or game will be carried on or conducted, the name of the owner of the business, show, exhibition or game, and must be signed by the applicant. In cases where such business, show, exhibition or game is not to be conducted or carried on at a permanent place of business in the City, then such application shall state the residence of the owners of such business, show, exhibition or game.
B. No registration certificate shall be issued to any corporation unless its articles of incorporation, or a certified copy thereof, are filed in the office of the County Clerk of the County or in the office of the City Clerk.
C. No registration certificate shall be issued to any person, firm or partnership conducting or carrying on any business, show, exhibition or game, under a fictitious name, unless an affidavit is filed in the office of the County Clerk or in the office of the City Clerk showing the true names of the owners of such business; provided, however, such certificate may be issued in the true names of the owners of such business, show, exhibition or game without the filing of such affidavit.
D. The determination of which business or type or class of business a business registration certificate holder or an applicant is engaged in shall be an administrative function of the City Clerk.
If a business registration certificate holder or an applicant believes that his business is not assigned to the proper classification under this Chapter because of circumstances peculiar to it, as distinguished from other businesses of the same kind, he or she may apply in writing to the City Clerk for reclassification. The application shall contain such information as the City Clerk deems necessary in order to determine whether the applicant's individual business is properly classified.
The City Clerk shall then conduct an investigation following which he or she shall assign the applicant's individual business to the classification shown to be proper on the basis of the investigation. The proper classification is the classification which, in the opinion of the City Clerk most nearly fits the applicant's individual business. The City Clerk shall notify the applicant of the action taken on the application for reclassification. Such notice shall be given by serving it personally or by depositing it in the United States Post Office at San Bernardino, California postage prepaid, addressed to the applicant at his or her last known address.
E. Each new or renewal business registration application shall be accompanied by a non-refundable application processing fee established by resolution of the Mayor and Common Council which shall be no more than necessary to cover the costs of processing. This fee shall be in addition to the business registration fee and shall not be prorated. Daily and Monthly Business Registration Applications shall be exempt from this requirement.
(Ord. MC-1272, 6-03-08; Ord. MC-935, 4-18-95; Ord. MC-817, 1-07-92; Ord. 763, 3-02-1920)