Chapter 5.02 — BUSINESS LICENSES GENERALLY

BGMC Title 5 may be cited as the "business license law" of the city. It is not intended by the business license law to repeal, abrogate, annul, or in any way impair or interfere with existing provisions of other laws or ordinances, except those specifically repealed by the business license law. Where the business license law imposes a greater restriction upon persons, premises, or personal property than is imposed or required by such existing provisions of law, the provisions of the business license law shall control. (Prior code § 6200)

The business license law shall apply to all persons conducting a business, profession, or trade within the city, whether or not such person maintains a fixed place of business in the city, and whether or not said person may primarily conduct his business, profession, or trade elsewhere. Unless exempted by the provisions of the business license law, a person shall be deemed to be conducting a business, profession, or trade within the city if he, or his agents, or employees offer, solicit, sell, contract, construct, make and deliver or repair, or perform acts or services in respect to said business, trade, or profession within the city. (Prior code § 6202(b))

• A. No person shall commence or carry on, either directly or indirectly, any business, profession, trade, or occupation, within the city, whether or not said person has a fixed place of business within the city or elsewhere, without first obtaining a business license and complying with the terms and the provisions of the business license law. A person shall have a current and valid business license at all times such person is conducting or transacting business within the city.

• B. The business license law contains both revenue and regulatory measures. The provisions contained in this title for the payment of a license fee in a specified amount are revenue measures. The provisions in this title prohibiting or regulating certain types of businesses, requiring the issuance of permits, requiring the registration of certain businesses, and otherwise imposing regulations in respect to the conduct of businesses are regulatory.

• C. Any person violating any of the regulatory provisions of the business license law, or knowingly or intentionally misrepresenting to any authorized officer of the city any material fact in procuring a license or permit provided for in this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00, or by imprisonment in

the city jail or the county jail of Los Angeles County for a period of not more than six months, or by both fine and imprisonment.

(prior code § 6300; Ord. 889 § 2, 2018)

No license issued under the provisions of this title shall be construed as authorizing the conduct of or continuance of any illegal or unlawful business. (Prior code § 6301)

Any person required to have a business license under the terms and provisions of the business license law who fails to pay to the city any sum required of said person when due and owing shall be deemed indebted to the city, and shall be liable in an action by and in the name of the city in any court of competent jurisdiction for the recovery of such amount plus penalties as set forth in this title. (Prior code § 6302)