City of Beverly, MA Licenses and Business Regulations

§ 192-1 Authority to grant licenses and permits; term; revocation.

The City Council shall grant such licenses or permits as are required by this chapter in accordance with the provisions of law applying to the same.

All licenses or permits provided by this chapter shall be issued by the City Clerk and shall expire on the 30th day of April annually unless otherwise provided by law, and may be revoked or annulled at any time, for cause, by the City Council.

Revocation due to unpaid fees. If any tax payable to the City remains unpaid 50 days after its due date, and the delinquent taxpayer holds a license or permit issued by the City Council or any office, officer or board, the City Treasurer-Collector may request the City Council or such office, officer or board to revoke or suspend such license or permit in accordance with law.

§ 192-2 Fees generally.

Fees set forth for licenses or permits shall be paid to the City Clerk at the time of the application therefor and such fees shall be returned if the licenses or permits are refused.

Article II Denial, Revocation or Suspension for Failure to Pay Taxes

[Amended 10-19-1992 by Ord. No. 429]

§ 192-3 List of delinquent taxpayers.

[Amended 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 046]

The City Finance Director shall annually furnish to each department, board, commission or division, hereinafter referred to as the "licensing authority," that issues licenses or permits, including renewals and transfers, a list of any persons, corporation, or business enterprise, hereinafter referred to as the "party," that has neglected or refused to pay any local taxes, fees, assessments, betterments, or other municipal charges, for over a twelve-month period. This article shall not apply to any party who has filed in good faith a pending application for an abatement of such tax or has a pending petition before the Appellate Tax Board.

§ 192-4 Authority to deny, revoke or suspend.

[Amended 2-16-2016 by Ord. No. 013; 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 046]

The licensing authority may deny, revoke or suspend any license or permit, including renewals and transfers, of any party whose name appears on said list furnished to the licensing authority from the City Collector or with respect to any activity, event or other matter which is the subject of such license or permit and which activity, event or matter is carried out or exercised or is to be carried out or exercised on or about real estate owned by any party whose name appears on said list furnished to the licensing authority from the City Collector; provided, however, that written notice is given to the party and the City Collector, as required by applicable provisions of law, and the party is given a hearing, to be held not earlier than 14 days after said notice. Said list shall be prima facie evidence for denial, revocation or suspension of said license or permit to any party. The City Collector shall have the right to intervene in any hearing conducted with respect to such license denial, revocation or suspension. Any findings made by the licensing authority with respect to such license denial, revocation or suspension shall be made only for the purposes of such proceeding and shall not be relevant to or introduced in any other proceeding at law, except for any appeal from such license denial, revocation or suspension. Any license or permit denied, suspended or revoked under this section shall not be reissued or renewed until the license authority receives a certificate issued by the City Collector that the party is in good standing with respect to any and all local taxes, fees, assessments, betterments or other municipal charges, payable to the municipality as the date of issuance of said certificate.

§ 192-5 Exceptions.

[Amended 2-16-2016 by Ord. No. 013]

This article shall not apply to the following licenses and permits:

Open burning	MGL c. 48, § 13
Sales of articles for charitable purposes	MGL c. 101, § 33
Children work permits	MGL c. 149, § 69
Clubs, associations dispensing food or beverage licenses	MGL c. 140, § 21E
Dog licenses	MGL c. 140, § 137
Fishing, hunting, trapping licenses	MGL c. 131, § 12
Marriage licenses	MGL c. 207, § 28
Theatrical events, public exhibition permits	MGL c. 140, § 181

§ 192-6 Payment agreements.

[Amended 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 046]

Any party may be given an opportunity to enter into a payment agreement, thereby allowing the licensing authority to issue a certificate indicating said limitations to the license or permit, and the validity of said license shall be conditioned upon the satisfactory compliance with said agreement. Failure to comply with said agreement shall be grounds for the suspension or revocation of said license or permit; provided, however, that the holder is given notice and a hearing as required by applicable provisions of law.

§ 192-7 Waiver.

The City Council may waive such denial, suspension or revocation if it finds there is no direct or indirect business interest by the property owner, its officers or stockholders, if any, or members of his immediate family, as defined in MGL c. 268A, § 1, in the business or activity conducted in or on said property.