Coronado Municipal Code Title 13 Business Certificates

A. This title is enacted to protect the public interest, health, welfare and safety by establishing a regulatory mechanism where the City may review all new and existing businesses operating in the City, ownership and management of speciHc types of businesses, maintain an accurate record of businesses conducting business in the City, and to ensure all businesses are made aware of and conform to all City zoning, Hre and public safety ordinances, rules and regulations by requiring them to register and procure a business certiHcate from the City.

B. This title is also intended to streamline the business certiHcate, home occupation permit and business occupancy permit processes into one business certiHcate registration system.

C. This title is also intended to protect the interests of legitimate businesses in the City from unfair competition with businesses operating in violation of Federal, State and local laws.

D. This title is not intended to impose any form of taxation on the business community nor to collect in fees more money than is necessary to recover the administrative costs. This title is not designed to raise revenue, nor is it a substitute for land use regulations. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

Unless otherwise expressly exempted, this title applies to all manner of commercial activities to include, without limitation, professions, trades, occupations and callings, whether or not carried on for proHt. This includes, but is not limited to, apartment complexes, apartment houses, contractors, delivery route operators, hotels, peddlers, and solicitors. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this title, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a diJerent meaning:

A. “Applicant” means a person who has applied for, but not obtained, a business certiHcate or renewal required by this title.

B. “Application” means a written request made to the City by the applicant for a business certiHcate or renewal required by this title.

C. “Business” means professions, trades and occupations, and all and every kind of calling, whether or not carried on for proHt. For purposes of this title, a business does not include the renting of two or fewer residential dwelling units.

D. “Business certiHcate” means a certiHcate issued pursuant to this title by which each business owner having a business, or doing business in the City, is required to provide general information to the City.

• E. “City” means the City of Coronado.

F. “Commercial activity” means professions, trades and occupations, and all and every kind of calling, whether or not carried on for proHt.

G. “Director” means a person designated by the City Manager who shall be responsible for the administration of this title. The Director may make rules, regulations, procedures and guidelines consistent with the provisions of this title as may be necessary or desirable to aid in the enforcement of the provisions of this title.

H. “Fixed place of business” or “established place of business” means a permanent store, oIce, or place where business is legally and regularly transacted from month to month in such a manner as a business of that nature is generally conducted and where circumstances show an intention to become an established and continuous part of the regular and legitimate business life of the City.

I. “Peddler” means every person not having a regularly established place of business in the City and who travels from place to place or has a stand upon any public street, alley or other public place, doorway of any room or building, unenclosed or vacant lot or parcel of land, who sells or oJers for sale any goods, wares, or merchandise in his possession.

J. “Person” means all domestic and foreign associations, corporations, syndicates, joint stock corporations, partnerships of every kind, clubs, business or common law trusts, and societies and individuals transacting and carrying on commercial activity in the City, other than as an employee.

K. “Sale” includes the transfer, in any manner or by any means whatsoever, of title to property for a consideration; the serving, supplying or furnishing for a consideration of any property; and a transaction whereby the possession of property is transferred and the seller retains title as security for the payment of the price shall likewise be deemed a sale. The foregoing deHnition shall not be deemed to exclude any transaction which is, or which in eJect, results in a sale within the contemplation of law.

L. “Solicitor” means all persons, both principal or agent, who go from house to house, or to only one house, or upon any street, sidewalk, alley, plaza, or in any park or public place in the City, soliciting either by sample or otherwise the sale of goods, wares, merchandise, services, magazines, periodicals, or other publications, or subscriptions for the same, regularly published newspapers excepted, for themselves, or for Hrms which do or do not have an established place of business in the City or who oJer to or distribute to any person any coupon, certiHcate, ticket, or card which is redeemable in goods, wares, merchandise, or services.

M. “Sworn statement” means an aIdavit sworn to before a person authorized to take oaths, or a declaration or certiHcation made under penalty of perjury. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. No person shall conduct any business in the City without Hrst having obtained a business certiHcate, paid the applicable business certiHcate fee and complied with any and all applicable provisions of this code.

B. A separate business certiHcate shall be obtained for each business location and for each separate type of business at the same location. Each certiHcate shall authorize the holder to transact and carry on only the business certiHed at a given location.

• C. A new business certiHcate shall be required whenever:

  1. There is a change of business name;

  2. There is a change of business ownership;

  3. There is a change of physical location; or

  4. There is a change of the type or nature of business. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. At the time of application for a business certiHcate, the applicant shall pay a fee for the processing and issuing of the certiHcate in an amount established by City Council resolution.

B. When a business license fee is imposed upon any business pursuant to this title and such business is conducted at one or more Hxed places of business and one or more branch establishments, the fee shall be computed as if each Hxed place of business and branch establishment is separate and independent.

C. The business license fee is not a revenue-raising device, but shall bear a reasonable relationship to the costs incurred by the City in reviewing, processing and acting upon the application. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. The applicant may be required to submit proof of obtaining such other Federal, State, County or City permits, approvals and licenses as are necessary for the conduct of the applicant’s business.

B. If the applicant’s business requires a license, approval or permit from some public or private entity or person, then proof thereof may be required at the time of Hling the application for the business certiHcate. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

When a person by use of signs, circulars, cards, telephone book, newspapers, or other form of advertisements holds out, or represents that such person is conducting business in the City, or when a person holds an active license or permit issued by a government agency indicating that such person is in business in the City, then these facts shall be considered prima facie evidence that such person is conducting a business in the City for purposes of this title. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. Civic groups, service clubs or social organizations, persons renting two or fewer residential dwelling units, casual workers such as babysitters, tutors, music teachers and the like shall be exempt from the requirement to obtain a business certiHcate.

B. Businesses which are exempt from the payment of fees or taxes to a municipal corporation by operation of the Constitution or statutes of the State of California or the United States shall be exempt from the requirement to obtain a business certiHcate. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. Charitable organizations meeting the conditions listed below are subject to the requirement to obtain a permit but shall be exempt from the payment of the certiHcate fee; provided, that the exemption from payment of a business certiHcate fee shall not waive compliance with any and all other ordinances and regulations applicable to such exempt institution or organization. The payment of the certiHcate fee will not be required to conduct, manage or carry on any business, occupation or activity from any institution or organization which is conducted, managed or carried on wholly for the beneHt of charitable purposes or from which proHt is not derived, either directly or indirectly, by any individual, Hrm or corporation.

B. There is further exemption from payment of any business certiHcate fee for any entertainment, concert, exhibition or lecture whenever the gross receipts of such activity are to be appropriated to any church or school or to any religious or benevolent or charitable purpose and no salaries, wages or fees are paid in connection therewith; provided, that the provisions of this code and all other ordinances and regulations of the City shall be complied with.

C. Further, no business license registration fee shall be required in connection with any entertainment, dance, concert, exhibition or lecture by any religious, charitable, fraternal, educational, military, State, County, or municipal organization or association when the receipts of any such activity are to be appropriated for the purposes and objective for which such association or organization was formed and from which no proHt is derived, either directly or indirectly, by any individual, Hrm or corporation; provided, that the provisions of this code and all other ordinances and regulations of the City shall be complied with.

D. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to exempt any person, Hrm, organization, or association from complying with the provisions of any ordinance of the City requiring a permit or approval from the City Council or from any oIcer to conduct, manage, or carry on business activity. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

• A. Applications for a business certiHcate shall be Hled with the City and shall comply with the following requirements:

  1. Completion of an application on the form designated by the City and signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury;

  2. Applications for new business certiHcates and business certiHcate renewals shall be Hled a minimum of 30 days prior to the date required for issuance of the certiHcate;

  3. Payment of the applicable Hling fee; and

  4. Such other information as may be required for the City.

B. The City shall formulate and publish “The City of Coronado Business CertiHcate Guidelines.” The Director shall have the authority to change, update, and revise the guidelines as necessary in order to implement the provisions of this title.

C. A business certiHcate application may be reviewed by any City department or any governmental agency to determine if the business operations and premises to be occupied meet the requirements of Federal, State or local laws. The Director may also refer to any governmental agency any information submitted by any person subject to the provisions of this title in connection with the conduct of a business regulated, or supervised, or otherwise the concern of any such agency, including agencies concerned with health regulations, zoning conformance, Hre safety, police considerations, or any other safeguard of the public interest. Failure to comply with conditions required by other agency review shall result in revocation of the certiHcate once it is granted. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. No certiHcate shall be issued until an application for a business certiHcate has been completed and Hled with the City, all business certiHcate fees are paid, and all City oIcers or departments required to investigate or review the application or inspect the premises or facilities to be occupied or used have approved of such issuance.

B. Except as otherwise provided in this title, when an applicant submits a timely business certiHcate renewal application and pays the renewal processing fee as set by resolution of the City Council, the City shall renew the business certiHcate, to be eJective upon the expiration of the old business certiHcate.

C. All certiHcates shall be renewed not later than 30 days after expiration. Renewal is the obligation of the business certiHcate holder. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

All business certiHcates shall be issued for the calendar year or portion remaining in the calendar year. All business certiHcates shall be required to be renewed on or before January 1st of each calendar year. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

Any person engaging in business, whether or not at a Hxed location or branch establishment in the City, shall have in their possession and be able to produce a copy of said business certiHcate if requested to do so by a City of Coronado employee in the course of their oIcial duties. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

• A. No business certiHcate applied for or issued pursuant to this title shall be transferable or refundable.

B. The assignment of or attempt to assign any business certiHcate pursuant to this title is unlawful and any such assignment or attempt to assign a business certiHcate shall render the certiHcate null and void. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A duplicate business certiHcate may be issued by the City to replace any business certiHcate previously issued under this title which has been lost or destroyed, upon the certiHcate holder Hling a sworn statement attesting to such fact and, at the time of Hling such statement, paying a duplicate business certiHcate fee as determined by the Administrative Services Director. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

Any person denied a business certiHcate shall be fully advised, in writing, of the grounds for such a denial. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. Every certiHcate granted under this title is granted and accepted by all parties with the express understanding that the City Council may revoke the certiHcate if it is in the best interest of the health, welfare and safety of the public to do so and grounds for such revocation exist.

B. Before a certiHcate may be revoked, the City Council must hold a public hearing with the notice of the time and place of the public hearing and the reason or reasons for the hearing given to the certiHcate holder. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A certiHcate required by this title may be denied or revoked, pursuant to this title, upon one or more of the following grounds:

• A. Proper application as prescribed in this title has not been made or information submitted is inaccurate or incomplete;

• B. The fee for such certiHcate has not been paid;

• C. Delinquent certiHcate fees have not been paid;

• D. The conduct of the business is contrary to local, State or Federal law;

• E. Information provided on the application is proved false. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. Any person aggrieved by the decision of an administrative oIcer or agency with respect to the issuance or refusal to issue a certiHcate may appeal that decision to the City Manager within 30 days of the date of the denial or the date of issuance of the certiHcate. The appeal must be in writing and Hled with the City Clerk. Following the Hling of an appeal, the City Manager or designee must notify the appellant of a time and place for a hearing to review the appeal.

B. If the person is not satisHed with the decision of the City Manager, the person may appeal to the City Council within 30 calendar days of receipt of the notice of the City Manager’s decision by Hling a written appeal with the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall Hx a time and place for hearing the appeal within 30 calendar days of the Hling of the appeal if possible and provide the appellant with suIcient notice by serving the appellant personally or by sending the notice by registered mail addressed to the appellant at the last known address. The City Council shall have the authority to determine all questions raised on appeal. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

The City shall withhold a business certiHcate from any person when there are pending violations of this code against such person and/or business applying for a business certiHcate, or when a debt is owed to the City as a result of a violation of this code. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. None of the fees imposed by this title shall be so applied as to occasion an undue burden upon interstate commerce or be violative of the equal protection and due process clauses of the Constitutions of the United States and the State of California.

B. In any case where a fee imposed by this title is believed by a certiHcate holder or applicant for a certiHcate to place an undue burden upon interstate commerce or be violative of such constitutional clauses, the applicant may apply to the City Council for an adjustment of the fee. Such application may be made before, at, or within six months after payment of the prescribed fee. The decision of the City Council shall be Hnal. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

A. Any person who fails to apply for and receive a certiHcate prior to the start of business, or has not applied for the renewal of an existing certiHcate prior to the expiration of the certiHcate, is in violation of this title and shall be assessed an administrative penalty fee as follows:

1. 31 days to 60 days overdue, a penalty of $50.00 shall be assessed;

2. 61 to 90 days overdue, a penalty of $100.00 shall be assessed; and

3. 91 days or more overdue, a penalty of $200.00 shall be assessed.

B. If a person fails to Hle for a certiHcate as provided in this title within 30 calendar days after being informed to do so, or fails to pay the business certiHcate fee or violates any of the other provisions of this title, or knowingly or intentionally misrepresents any material facts to any oIcer or employee of the City in procuring the certiHcate provided in this title, or continues to operate a business after the business registration certiHcate has been revoked, the person is deemed to be in violation of this title.

• C. Where the conduct constituting a violation is of an ongoing and continuing nature, each day of such conduct is a separate and distinct violation.

D. In addition to the administrative penalty fee authorized under this title, the City retains the ability to exercise the enforcement provisions provided in Chapter 1.08 CMC. (Ord. 2074 § 2, 2018)

The Coronado Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2026-05, passed June 16, 2026.

Disclaimer: The City Clerk’s OIce has the oIcial version of the Coronado Municipal Code. Users should contact the City Clerk’s OIce for ordinances passed subsequent to the ordinance cited above.

City Website: www.coronado.ca.us

Hosted by ICC Code Solutions.