Chapter 5.05
BUSINESS REGISTRATION SYSTEM
Sections:
5.05.010 Definitions.
5.05.020 Business registration required.
5.05.030 Exemptions.
5.05.040 Application procedure.
5.05.050 Fee – Terms – Penalty.
5.05.060 Transfer or sale of business – New license required.
5.05.070 Violation – Penalty.
5.05.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
A. "Business" means all kinds of vocations, occupations, professions, enterprises, establishments, industries, services and all other kinds of activities and matters that require registration or licensing with the state of Washington or are conducted on any premises in the City of Spokane Valley. "Business" also means activities and matters conducted by public, charitable, educational, literary, fraternal or religious organizations within the City of Spokane Valley.
B. "City" means the City of Spokane Valley, Spokane County, Washington.
C. "Engaging in business" means commencing, conducting, or continuing in business, the exercise of corporate or franchise powers, as well as liquidating a business when the liquidators thereof hold themselves out to the public as conducting such business.
D. "Person" means any individual, corporation, company, firm, joint stock company, partnership, joint venture, trust, business trust, club, association, society, or any group of individuals acting as a unit or otherwise.
E. "Tax year" means the calendar year commencing January 1st and ending on December 31st. (Ord. 04-032 § 1, 2004; Ord. 34 § 1, 2003).
5.05.020 Business registration required.
A. On or before December 31, 2004, every person engaging in business or continuing business after December 31, 2004, shall register with the City by completing a registration form and, if required, pay a registration fee. If more than one business is located on a single premises, separate registrations shall be required for each separate business conducted.
B. The city manager or designee is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the State of Washington Master License Service under which that agency shall accept and process City business registration applications. (Ord. 04-032 § 1, 2004; Ord. 34 § 2, 2003).
5.05.030 Exemptions.
The following services and activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
A. Persons who deliver newspapers and periodicals;
B. Persons who solicit orders from retail establishments via the telephone, Internet or mail for the delivery and sale of goods, wares and merchandise unless the person’s place of business is located within the City;
C. Minors engaged in babysitting;
D. The casual sale of items of personal property where the person conducting such sale is not regularly engaged in the business of selling items of personal property (for example, garage sales, service agency bake sales);
E. Sales by farmers or gardeners of their own farm products raised and grown exclusively upon lands owned or occupied by them;
F. Providers of Internet or wireless phone services where the provider operates from premises located outside the City and the only event occurring within the City is receipt of such goods and services; and
G. Temporary craft booths and food booths lasting 10 days or less in any one location. (Ord. 04-032 § 1, 2004; Ord. 34 § 3, 2003).
5.05.040 Application procedure.
A. Application for the business registration shall be made in writing to the city clerk upon a form provided by the City. The application shall state the name, type and address of the business or businesses, the owner, operator or agent and such other information as requested by the city clerk.
B. If the applicant is a partnership, the application must be made by one of the partners; if a corporation, by one of the officers thereof; if a foreign corporation, partnership or nonresident individual, by the resident agent or local manager of the corporation, partnership or individual.
C. The city clerk shall maintain a record of all registered businesses. (Ord. 04-032 § 1, 2004; Ord. 34 § 4, 2003).
5.05.050 Fee – Terms – Penalty.
A. Business registration shall occur on a calendar-year basis and shall expire on December 31st of the year for which the registration was issued.
B. A fee shall be charged for businesses registering for the 2005 calendar year and years thereafter. Business registration fees shall be established by city council resolution.
C. Failure to pay the registration fee by the applicable date shall result in a late fee of 50 percent of the annual registration fee.
D. Failure to pay the annual fee may result in non-issuance of a Washington State license, as determined by the Washington State Department of Licensing. (Ord. 04-032 § 1, 2004; Ord. 34 § 5, 2003).
5.05.060 Transfer or sale of business – New license required.
Upon the sale or transfer of any business, the registration issued to the prior owner or transferer shall automatically expire on the date of such sale or transfer and the new owner intending to continue such business in the City shall apply for a new registration pursuant to the procedures established by this chapter. (Ord. 04-032 § 1, 2004; Ord. 34 § 6, 2003).
5.05.070 Violation – Penalty.
Any person, as defined herein, and the officers, directors, managing agents, or partners of any corporation, firm, partnership or other organization or business violating or failing to comply with any provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a Class 2 civil infraction pursuant to Chapter 7.80 RCW. (Ord. 04-032 § 1, 2004; Ord. 34 § 7, 2003).