Chapter 3.36 — TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX

The purpose of the transient occupancy tax is to collect funds to cover costs incurred for street maintenance and traffic control caused by transient occupants within the City. (Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984)

Except where the context otherwise requires, the definitions given in this section govern the construction of this chapter.

• A. "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, joint stock company, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit.

• B. "Hotel" means any structure, or any portion of any structure, which is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes and includes any hotel, inn, tourist home or house, motel, studio hotel, bachelor hotel, lodging house, rooming-house, apartment house, dormitory, public or private club, mobile home or house trailer at a fixed location, or other similar structure or portion thereof.

• C. "Occupancy" means the use or possession, or the right to the use or possession of any room or rooms or portion thereof, in any hotel for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes.

• D. "Transient" means any person who exercises occupancy or is entitled to occupancy by reason of concession, permit, right of access, license or other agreement for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days. Any such person so occupying space in a hotel shall be deemed to be a transient until the period of 30 days has expired unless there is an agreement in writing between the operator and the occupant providing for a longer period of occupancy. In determining whether a person is a transient, uninterrupted periods of time extending both prior and subsequent to the effective date of this chapter may be considered.

• E. "Rent" means the consideration charged, whether or not received, for the occupancy of space in a hotel valued in money, whether to be received in money, goods, labor or otherwise including all receipts, cash, credits and property and services of any kind or nature, without any deduction therefrom whatsoever.

• F. "Operator" means the person who is proprietor of the hotel, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other capacity. Where the operator performs his functions through a managing agent of any type of character other than an employee, the managing agent shall also be deemed an operator for the purposes of this chapter and shall have the same duties and liabilities as his principal. Compliance with the provisions of this chapter by either the principal or the managing agent shall, however, be considered to be compliance by both.

• G. "City" means City of Norco, State of California. (Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984)

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City of Norco, CA

NORCO CODE

§ 3.36.030

§ 3.36.060

For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of 11 percent of the rent charged by the operator. Said tax constitutes a debt owned by the transient to the City which is extinguished only by payment to the operator or to the City. The transient shall pay the tax to the operator of the hotel at the time the rent is paid. If the rent is paid in installments, a proportionate share of the tax shall be paid with each installment. The unpaid tax shall be due upon the transient's ceasing to occupy space in the hotel. If for any reason the tax due is not paid to the operator of the hotel, the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance may require that such tax shall be paid directly to the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance. (Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984; Ord. 836 Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 913 Sec. 1, 2009)

No tax shall be imposed upon:

• A. Any person as to whom, or any occupancy as to which, it is beyond the power of the City to impose the tax herein provided;

• B. Any officer or employee of a foreign government who is exempt by reason of express provision of federal law or international treaty. No exemption shall be granted except upon a claim therefor made at the time rent is collected and under penalty of perjury upon a term prescribed by the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance.

• (Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984; Ord. 836 Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by this chapter to the same extent and at the same time as the rent is collected from every transient. The amount of tax shall be separately stated from the amount of the rent charged, and each transient shall receive a receipt for payment from the operator. No operator of a hotel shall advertise or state in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, that the tax or any part thereof will be assumed or absorbed by the operator, or that it will not be added to the rent, or that, if added, any part will be refunded except in the manner hereinafter provided.

(Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984)

Within 30 days after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or within 30 days after commencing business, whichever is later, each operator or any hotel renting occupancy to transients shall register said hotel with the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance and obtain from that office a transient occupancy registration certificate to be at all times posted in a conspicuous place on the premises. Said certificate shall, among other things, state the following:

• A. The name of the operator;

• B. The address of the hotel;

• C. The date upon which the certificate was issued;

by registering with the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance for the purpose of collecting from transients the transient occupancy tax and remitting said tax to the Deputy City Manager/ Director of Finance. This certificate does not authorize any person to conduct any unlawful

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City of Norco, CA

REVENUE AND FINANCE

§ 3.36.060

§ 3.36.090

business or to conduct any lawful business in any unlawful manner, not to operate a hotel without strictly complying with all local applicable laws including but not limited to those requiring a permit from any board, commission, department, agency or office of said City. This certificate does not constitute a permit.

(Ord. 836 Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

Each operator shall, on or before the last day of the month following the close of each calendar quarter, or at the close of any shorter reporting period which may be established by the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance, make a return to the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance on forms provided by that office of the total rents charged and received and the amount of tax collected for transient occupancies. At the time the return is filed, the full amount of the tax collected shall be remitted to the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance. The Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance may establish shorter reporting periods for any certificate holder if he deems it necessary in order to ensure collection of the tax and he may require further information in the return. Returns and payments are due immediately upon cessation of business for any reason. All taxes collected by operators pursuant to this chapter shall be held in trust for the account of the City until payment thereof is made to the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance.

(Ord. 836 Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

• A. Original Delinquency. Any operator who fails to remit any tax imposed by this chapter within the time required shall pay a penalty of 10 percent of the amount of the tax in addition to the amount of the tax.

• B. Continued Delinquency. Any operator who fails to remit any delinquent remittance on or before a period of 30 days following the date on which the remittance first became delinquent shall pay a second delinquency penalty of 10 percent of the amount of the tax in addition to the amount of the tax and the 10 percent penalty first imposed.

• C. Fraud. If the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance determines that the nonpayment of any remittance due under this chapter is due to fraud, a penalty of 25 percent of the amount of the tax shall be added thereto in addition to the penalties stated in subsections (A) and (B) of this section.

• D. Interest. In addition to the penalties imposed, any operator who fails to remit any tax imposed by this chapter shall pay interest at the rate of one-half of one percent per month or fraction thereof on the amount of the tax, exclusive of penalties, from the date on which the remittance first became delinquent until paid.

• E. Penalties Merged With Tax. Every penalty imposed and such interest as accrues under the provisions of this section shall become a part of the tax herein required to be paid.

• (Ord. 530, 1984; Ord. 836 Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

• A. Determination of Tax by Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance. If any operator shall fail or refuse to collect said tax and to make, within the time provided in this chapter, any

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City of Norco, CA

NORCO CODE

§ 3.36.090

§ 3.36.120

report and remittance of said tax or any portion thereof required by this chapter, the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance shall proceed in such manner as he may deem best to obtain facts and information on which to base his estimate of the tax due. As soon as the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance shall procure such facts and information as he is able to obtain upon which to base the assessment of any tax imposed by this chapter and payable by any operator who has failed or refused to collect the same and to make such report and remittance, he shall proceed to determine and assess against such operator the tax, interest and penalties provided for by this chapter. In case such determination is made, the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance shall give a notice of the amount so assessed by serving it personally or by depositing it in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the operator so assessed at his last known place of address. Such operator may within 10 days after the serving or mailing of such notice make application in writing to the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance for a hearing before said Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance on the amount assessed. If application by the operator for a hearing is not made within the time prescribed the tax, interest and penalties, if any, determined by the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance shall become final and conclusive and immediately due and payable. If such application is made, the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance shall give not less than five days' written notice in the manner prescribed herein to the operator to show cause at a time and place fixed in said notice why said amount specified therein should not be fixed for such tax, interest and penalties. At such hearing, the operator may appear and offer evidence why such specified tax, interest and penalties should not be so fixed. After such hearing the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance shall determine the proper tax to be remitted and shall thereafter give written notice to the person in the manner prescribed herein of such determination and the amount of such tax, interest and penalties. The amount determined to be due shall be payable 15 days after said written notice is given unless an appeal is taken as provided in Section 3.36.100.

(Ord. 530, 1984; Ord. 836 Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

Any operator who believes he is aggrieved by any decision of the City Clerk with respect to the amount of such tax, interest and penalties, if any, may appeal to the City Council of the City by filing a notice of appeal with the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance within 15 days of the serving or mailing of the determination of tax due. The Council shall fix a time and place for hearing such appeal, and the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance shall give notice in writing of said time and place for hearing to such operator at his last known place of address. The findings and determinations of the Council at the hearing shall be final and conclusive and shall be served upon the appellant in the manner prescribed above for service of notice of hearing. Any amount found to be due shall be immediately due and payable upon the service of notice. (Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984; Ord. 836 Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

It shall be the duty of every operator liable for the collection and payment to the City of any tax imposed by this chapter to keep and preserve, for a period of three years, all records as may be necessary to determine the amount of such tax as he may have been liable for the collection of any payment to the City which records the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance shall have the right to inspect at all reasonable times and places.

(Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984; Ord. 836 Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

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City of Norco, CA

REVENUE AND FINANCE

§ 3.36.120

§ 3.36.150

• A. Whenever the amount of any tax, interest or penalty has been overpaid or paid more than once or has been erroneously or illegally collected or received by the City under this chapter, it may be refunded as provided in subsections (B) and (C) of this section provided a claim in writing therefor, stating under penalty of perjury the specific grounds upon which the claim is founded, is filed with the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance within three years of the date of payment. The claim shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance.

• B. An operator may claim a refund or take as credit against taxes collected and remitted the amount overpaid, paid more than once or erroneously or illegally collected or received when it is established in a manner prescribed by the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance that the person from whom the tax has been collected was not a transient; provided, however, that neither a refund nor a credit shall be allowed unless the amount of the tax so collected has either been refunded to the transient or credited to rent subsequently payable by the transient to the operator.

• C. A transient may obtain a refund of taxes overpaid or paid more than once or erroneously or illegally collected or received by the City by filing a claim in the manner provided in subsection (A) of this section, but only when the tax was paid by the transient directly to the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance or when the transient, having paid the tax to the operator, establishes to the satisfaction of the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance that the transient has been unable to obtain a refund from the operator who collected the tax.

• D. No refund shall be paid under the provisions of this section unless the claimant establishes his right hereto by written records showing entitlement thereto.

• (Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984; Ord. 836, Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

Any tax required to be paid by any transient under the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed a debt owned by the transient to the City. Any person owing money to the City under the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to an action brought in the name of the City of Norco for the recovery of such amount.

(Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

It shall be unlawful for any operator or other person to fail or refuse to register as required herein, or to furnish any return required to be made, or to fail or refuse to furnish a supplemental return or other data required by the Deputy City Manager/Director of Finance or to render a false or fraudulent return or claim, or to make, render, sign or verify any report or claim which is false or fraudulent.

(Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984; Ord. 634, 1991; Ord. 836 Sec. 4, 2005; Ord. 920 Sec. 1, 2010)

If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter or any part thereof is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the

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City of Norco, CA

NORCO CODE

§ 3.36.150

§ 3.36.150

validity of the remaining portions of this chapter or any part thereof. The City Council declares that it would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared unconstitutional. (Ord. 530 Sec. 1 (part), 1984)

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City of Norco, CA

REVENUE AND FINANCE

§ 3.40.010

§ 3.40.020