Torrance Municipal Code Art. 9 Denial, Revocation and Suspension of Licenses

Any license issued to any person to carry on any business under the provisions of this Division may be revoked or suspended in the manner hereinafter provided.

The City Clerk shall, upon motion of the License Review Board, or upon written charges filed by any officer or department head of the City, give notice to any licensee to appear before the License Review Board at a time and place set for such hearing by the City Clerk to show cause why the license issued to such licensee should not be revoked or suspended. Said notice shall state the grounds for complaint or reasons for the proposed revocation or suspension and shall be served upon the licensee not less than five (5) days prior to the date set for said hearing.

a) The Chief of Police, Chief of the Fire Department, Superintendent of Building Inspection, City Health Officer or the License Review Board, upon its own motion, may suspend any license without previous notice, and pending a hearing when it appears to such officers or the License Review Board that the immediate suspension of any license is necessary for the public health, morals, safety or general welfare.

b) At the time of the suspension of the license, the licensee shall be served with a written statement containing the reasons for such suspension and giving notice of the time and place for hearing thereon before the License Review Board as determined by the License Supervisor.

c) The hearing of the charges upon which the suspension was based shall be held not later than forty-eight (48) hours after such suspension unless an extension of time therefor is requested by the licensee, in which event the hearing will be held not later than fifteen (15) days after such suspension.

The License Review Board shall hold a hearing at the time set therefor as provided. The licensee may appear personally or by counsel. The License Review Board and the licensee may call witnesses. The License Review Board may continue the hearing from time to time; provided, however, that a hearing held pursuant to the provisions of Section 31.9.3. may be continued only with the consent of the licensee. At the conclusion thereof, the License Review Board may revoke, suspend or reinstate any such license upon such terms and conditions as in the exercise of reasonable discretion it shall determine.

Any notice required to be given by this Article shall be deemed sufficient if given by personal delivery to the licensee, to any employee of such licensee at his place of business mentioned in said license in the event that said licensee is absent from said place of business, or if sent by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the licensee at the address shown on said license or in other public records pertaining to the matter to which such notice is directed. Service by mail shall be deemed to have been completed twenty-four (24) hours following the time of the deposit in the Post Office.

After a license has been revoked or suspended, no license shall be issued by the License Supervisor to any licensee to carry on any business or do any act for which such license was granted until an order to the contrary shall have been issued by the License Review Board.

No person whose license has been revoked or suspended pursuant to this Article shall carry on any business, or do any act permitted to be done pursuant to such license during the period of suspension, or after revocation thereof, until the license is reinstated or a new license shall have been granted.

(Amended by O-2822)

In any case where the License Supervisor, any officer or department head of the City or the License Review Board approves or fails to approve an application for a business license, or in any case where the License Supervisor, any officer or department head of the City or the License Review Board has suspended or revoked, or refuses to suspend or revoke a license, the decision may be appealed pursuant to the provisions of Article 5, Chapter 1, Division 1 of this Code, commencing at Section 11.5.1.

(Added by O-1743)

Any person who holds both a license issued by the State to carry on any business or perform any activity and a license issued by the City, shall hold his City license subject to revocation or suspension only to the extent such revocation or suspension is not prohibited by State Law.

(Added by O-1845; Amended by O-2924)

Any such suspension or revocation shall occur only upon one or more of the following grounds:

a) Failure to pay any fee required by this Division.

b) Misstatement found to have been made when applying for the license.

c) The business activity conducted is prohibited by law.

d) The business activity conducted is found to be a public nuisance.

e) Failure to allow the License Supervisor or his deputy to examine the books and records of any licensee when reasonably necessary to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Division.

f) Such suspension or revocation is necessary for the preservation of the public health, morals, safety or general welfare.

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1

Fees increased/decreased pursuant to Section 31.2.16.

2

Fees increased/decreased pursuant to Section 31.2.16.

3

Fees increased/decreased pursuant to Section 31.2.16.

4

For State law as to persons exempt from license charges, see B & PC, Section 16001 and Section 16002.