Chapter 4.20
BUSINESS REGISTRATION

Sections:

4.20.010    Purpose.

4.20.020    Definitions.

4.20.030    Exemptions.

4.20.040    Registration application procedure.

4.20.050    Registration application content and business registration content.

4.20.060    Denial appeal.

4.20.070    Denial—Hearing—Council determination.

4.20.080    Revocation or suspension of registration—Grounds.

4.20.090    Revocation—Registrant right to appeal.

4.20.100    Revocation—Hearing.

4.20.110    Subsequent application.

4.20.120    Temporary registration.

4.20.130    Home occupations.

4.20.140    Posting of the registration—Nontransferable.

4.20.150    Standards of conduct.

4.20.160    Single location—Multiple nature of business.

4.20.170    Single business—Multiple locations.

4.20.180    Sale/transfer of business—New registration required.

4.20.190    Fee schedule.

4.20.200    Current expense fund.

4.20.210    Business activity without a valid license—Infraction.

4.20.010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a means for obtaining public information and compiling statistical information on existing and new businesses in the city to ensure the legal conduct of the businesses and to assist in the effective administration of the health, fire, building, zoning and other codes of the city. (Ord. 1239 § 1, 1993).

4.20.020 Definitions.

Except as otherwise expressly declared or clearly apparent from the context in which used, the following definitions shall be applied in construing the provisions of this chapter:

(1)    “Business” means all services, activities, occupations, pursuits or professions located and/or performed within the city with the object of pecuniary gain, benefit or advantage to the person or class, directly or indirectly, whether part-time or full-time, and which business is required to register under the State of Washington Unified Business Identifier Program pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 19.02 RCW. This definition includes home occupations. Peddlers, hawkers and transient businesses are regulated under Chapter 4.24 of this code. Businesses which are exempt from this chapter are specified in Section 4.20.030.

(2)    “Home occupation” means an occupation carried on by a resident of a dwelling as an accessory use within the same dwelling.

(3)    “Person” means one or more natural persons of either sex, corporations, partnerships, associations or other entities capable of having an action at law brought against such entity, but shall not include employees of persons licensed pursuant to this chapter.

(4)    “Special events” means those civic activities as defined by council policy. (Ord. 1406 § 1, 1999; Ord. 1374 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1239 § 2, 1993).

4.20.030 Exemptions.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:

(1)    Nonprofit activities carried on by religious, charitable, benevolent, fraternal or social organizations;

(2)    Public utility companies;

(3)    Farmers or gardeners selling their own unprocessed farm products raised or grown exclusively upon lands owned or occupied by them;

(4)    Multi-level marketing and sponsoring;

(5)    Garage and yard sales;

(6)    Businesses where the sale occurs on business premises outside of the city, and the only event occurring within the city is the mere delivery of the goods to the customer or client;

(7)    Any business which is owned and operated by a person under the age of eighteen years and which does not generate a net income of more than one thousand five hundred dollars per year;

(8)    Any instrumentality of the United States, state of Washington, or any political subdivision thereof, with respect to the exercise of governmental functions:

(9)    All special events sponsored by the city but not to include participating commercial peddlers.

(10)    All persons, firms, associations, clubs, copartnerships or societies or any other organization which would otherwise be licensed by the city of Omak as pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers as provided for under Chapter 4.40 of the Omak Municipal Code. (Ord. 1404 § 1, 1999: Ord. 1341 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1239 § 3, 1993).

4.20.040 Registration application procedure.

If the registrant represents a new business or desires to change the location of a currently registered business, he/she shall submit a completed application and the required registration fee to Omak City Hall. Prior to the issuance of the business registration, submitted application shall be reviewed by and proposed business location and building thereto inspected and approved by the fire chief, the building official, and the police chief. The business registration shall be issued only if the location and building are in compliance with building codes, fire codes, and zoning regulations of the city as those codes and regulations relate to existing and/or new structures. (Ord. 1239 § 4, 1993).

4.20.050 Registration application content and business registration content.

The license application and business registration attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter and on file in the office of the city clerk as Exhibit A and Exhibit B are approved as the official forms for the city of Omak. (Ord. 1239 § 5, 1993).

4.20.060 Denial appeal.

Any applicant denied a business registration by the city clerk shall have a right of appeal to the city council. The applicant shall, within ten days of mailing by the clerk of notice of denial, give a notice of appeal to the city clerk, in writing. The clerk shall place the applicants appeal on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled city council meeting and inform the applicant in writing of the date, time and location of the meeting. (Ord. 1239 § 6, 1993).

4.20.070 Denial—Hearing—Council determination.

(a)    The city council shall hold a public hearing at which the applicant may present testimony as to his compliance with the statutes or ordinance which he is allegedly not conforming with.

(b)    After the close of the public hearing, the city council shall either grant the registration or sustain the denial. The city council shall make findings of fact which shall be incorporated in its minutes as to the basis for its decision. The council’s decision shall be final.

(c)    Conduct of business after such denial of registration is unlawful. (Ord. 1239 § 7, 1993).

4.20.080 Revocation or suspension of registration—Grounds.

The city council may, at any time, suspend or revoke any registration issued under the provisions of this chapter whenever the registrant, or any manager, officer, director, agent or employee of the business owner, has caused, permitted or knowingly done any of the following:

(1)    Violated any federal, state or city statute, law, regulation or ordinance upon the business premises, or in connection with the business operation, whether or not any party has been convicted in any court of competent jurisdiction of such violations; or

(2)    Conducted, engaged in or operated the business on premises in the city which do not conform to the ordinances of the city; or

(3)    Engaged in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of the business, operated the business in such a manner as to constitute a public nuisance; or

(4)    Made any material false statement or representation, or failed to disclose any material information to the city in connection with obtaining the business registration or any renewal thereof. (Ord. 1239 § 8, 1993).

4.20.090 Revocation—Registrant right to appeal.

Upon revocation, the permittee shall have a right of appeal to the council. The registrant shall, within ten days of the notice of revocation, give notice to the city clerk, in writing, of his intent to appeal the revocation to the council. The clerk shall place the registrant’s appeal on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled council meeting occurring more than five days after receipt of the notice of appeal, and inform the registrant, in writing, of the date, time and location of meeting. (Ord. 1239 § 9, 1993).

4.20.100 Revocation—Hearing.

(a)    The council shall hold a public hearing at which the registrant may present testimony as to his compliance with the statutes or ordinances which he allegedly has failed to comply with.

(b)    After the close of the public hearing, the council shall make findings of fact which shall be incorporated in its minutes as to the basis of its decision. The council may sustain the revocation of the registrant, reinstate the license with conditions, reinstate the registration after a certain time, or immediately reinstate the permit. (Ord. 1239 § 10, 1993).

4.20.110 Subsequent application.

The applicant may resubmit an application previously denied or suspended upon submission of adequate proof to the council that the reasons for an original denial or suspension have been corrected. A new registration shall accompany any reapplication. (Ord. 1239 § 11, 1993).

4.20.120 Temporary registration.

(a)    Registrations issued for the following businesses shall be temporary and a permanent registration shall not be issued until the business has been approved by the Okanogan County health department, which approval must be obtained within thirty days after the issuance of the temporary registration.

(1)    Bakeries;

(2)    Cafes and restaurants;

(3)    Confectioneries;

(4)    Grocery stores;

(5)    Meat stores;

(6)    Produce stores (wholesale and retail);

(7)    Soda fountains;

(8)    Taverns;

(9)    Motels;

(10)    Hotels;

(11)    Any other business which is or shall be required by law to obtain a health permit.

(b)    If, at any time, any of the businesses registered in this section do not meet with the approval of the Okanogan County health department, the registration shall be revoked and shall not be reissued until such business again meets with the approval of the Okanogan County health department. (Ord. 1239 § 12, 1993).

4.20.130 Home occupations.

A home occupation when conducted as an accessory use to a dwelling in a residential zone shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1)    No exterior display shall be permitted;

(2)    No exterior storage of materials shall be permitted;

(3)    Exterior signs shall be restricted to those permitted in the zone in which the home occupation is located. There shall be no other exterior indication of the home occupation;

(4)    A home occupation which creates a nuisance because of noise, smoke, odor, dust, or gas or the generation of vehicle or pedestrian traffic is prohibited. (Ord. 1239 § 13, 1993).

4.20.140 Posting of the registration—Nontransferable.

Every business registration issued pursuant to this chapter shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the place of business of the registrant. All registrations issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be personal and nontransferable. (Ord. 1239 § 14, 1993).

4.20.150 Standards of conduct.

Every registrant under this chapter shall do the following:

(1)    Permit reasonable inspections of the business premises by governmental authorities for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter;

(2)    Comply with all federal, state and city statutes, laws, regulations and ordinances relating to the business premises and the conduct of the business thereon;

(3)    Refrain from unfair or deceptive acts or practices, or consumer fraud, in the conduct of the business, and avoid maintaining a public nuisance on the business premises;

(4)    Refrain from operating the business during the period that the registration may be suspended or revoked. (Ord. 1239 § 15, 1993).

4.20.160 Single location—Multiple nature of business.

No business conducted or carried on in a single location under one management or ownership shall pay more than one registration fee, regardless of the multiple nature of the business carried on. (Ord. 1239 § 16, 1993).

4.20.170 Single business—Multiple locations.

In case a business is transacted at two or more separate places, a separate registration for each place at which business is transacted shall be required. (Ord. 1239 § 17, 1993).

4.20.180 Sale/transfer of business—New registration required.

Upon the sale or transfer of any business which is registered pursuant to this chapter, the registration issued to the prior owner shall automatically expire on the date of such sale or transfer and the new owner shall apply for and obtain a new business registration prior to engaging in, conducting or operating the business. (Ord. 1239 § 18, 1993).

4.20.190 Fee schedule.

On and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, there is levied upon and shall be collected from every business engaging in business in the city a one-time registration fee. Such registration fee, payable in advance, is set by resolution. (Ord. 1418 § 14, 1999; Ord. 1239 § 19, 1993).

4.20.200 Current expense fund.

All funds received by the city under the terms of this chapter shall be paid into the current expense fund of the city and budgeted annually for any municipal purpose, as required by law. (Ord. 1239 § 20, 1993).

4.20.210 Business activity without a valid license—Infraction.

It shall be an infraction for any person to conduct business in the city without a valid current registration as required by this chapter. A person violating this chapter shall be subject to a three-hundred-dollar fine. (Ord. 1239 § 21, 1993).