[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Lawnside 4-14-1965 by Ord. No. 98-1965; amended in its entirety 12-7-2022 by Ord. No. 15-2022. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
Every person who shall engage in or carry on any business within
the limits of the Borough of Lawnside, for the purpose of this chapter,
shall be deemed required to obtain a mercantile license.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BUSINESS
Includes businesses, trades, callings, professions and vocations.
OWNER
Includes persons, firms, copartnerships and corporations.
Every person who shall engage in or carry on any business within
the limits of the Borough of Lawnside, in using any vehicle, stand,
store or other place or thing, to sell or offer any goods or thing
for which a license is required by the terms of this chapter, shall
submit a mercantile license application to the Borough Clerk annually
by January 30 of each year.
A. The mercantile license application shall give:
(1) Applicant/business owner or officers' name, address, contact
phone number and email address.
(5) The number of other equipment (vending machines, washers, dryers),
if applicable.
(6) The number of signs, freestanding signs and dimensions, if applicable.
B. Time for applying for license. The owner of any newly acquired business
shall submit a mercantile license application to the Borough Clerk
upon zoning permit approval and a passing certificate of occupancy
inspection. No business operations can initiate without issuance of
a mercantile license.
A. The fees herein imposed for such licenses are imposed for revenue
and regulation.
B. All business owners shall pay the required annual mercantile license
fees annually by January 30 of each year. Any business owner who does
not pay the required annual mercantile license fees by January 30
shall be assessed a late fee of $50 at the time of application.
C. A mercantile license with the municipality name, business location,
licensing year, and a mercantile license serial number shall be issued
to the business owner after payment has been received by the Borough
Clerk to conduct business operations in the municipality.
D. The mercantile license shall expire on December 31 of the licensing
year.
E. Any business owner found to be transacting business without the required
license is subject to cease of business operations until the business
is in compliance and required fees are received by the Borough Clerk
and subject to a fine of $100 per day for violation of the terms aforementioned
in this chapter.
The license fees to be paid annually for conducting businesses
within the limits of the Borough of Lawnside, in using any vehicle,
stand, store or other place or thing, to sell or offer any goods or
thing for which a license is required by the terms of this chapter,
shall be:
Business Type
|
Fee
|
---|
Amusements, carnival, festival (licensed for a 7-day period)
|
$300 plus $25 for each amusement unit/game/ride
|
Auction
|
$75 each day
|
Automatic slot machines including jukebox/music
|
$75 each unit
|
Automobile accessories, dealership, paint body shop, repairs,
service station
|
$100
|
Barbershop
|
$100
|
Beauty shop
|
$100
|
Billiard hall
|
$100 plus $25 each table
|
Dance hall requiring police protection
|
$85
|
Department store
|
|
Up to 5,000 square feet
|
$200
|
5,001 square feet to 10,000 square feet
|
$500
|
Over 10,000 square feet
|
$750
|
Drugstore/pharmacy
|
$100
|
Dry cleaners
|
$100
|
Electrical goods and supplies
|
$100
|
Florists/garden tools and supplies
|
$100
|
Food store/supermarket
|
|
Up to 5,000 square feet
|
$200
|
5,001 square feet to 10,000 square feet
|
$500
|
Over 10,000 square feet
|
$750
|
Food truck vendor
|
$75 per day
|
Funeral home
|
$250
|
Insurance agency
|
$100
|
Jeweler
|
$100
|
Landlord
|
$100 plus $45 registration fee per rental unit
|
Laundromat
|
$100 plus $25 for each washer and dryer
|
Manufacturer
|
$150
|
Movie theaters, multiscreen complex
|
$500 plus $75 each screen
|
Music, musical devices and instruments
|
$100
|
Newsstand including books and magazines
|
$100
|
Photography and videography studio
|
$100
|
Radio and TV sales and services
|
$100
|
Realtor
|
$100
|
Restaurant
|
$150
|
Signs
|
|
Up to 25 square feet
|
$75
|
26 square feet to 50 square feet
|
$100
|
51 square feet to 75 square feet
|
$125
|
76 square feet to 100 square feet
|
$150
|
Over 100 square feet
|
$600
|
Solicitors
|
$150 per year
|
Storage facility
|
|
Up to 100 units
|
$250
|
101 units to 150 units
|
$350
|
151 units to 200 units
|
$500
|
Over 200 units
|
$750
|
Transportation services
|
$300
|
Vending machines
|
$75 each unit
|
Wholesale dealers and distributors
|
$100
|
Other business not herein classified
|
$150
|
No license shall be granted for any theater, scenic theater,
moving-picture show, electric illusion or other exhibition or amusement
until the Chief of the Electrical Bureau, Building Inspector and Chief
Engineer of the Fire Department certify in writing to the Borough
Clerk that the applicant has complied with all the ordinances and
regulations respecting protection of life and property relating to
such places. The certificate of license shall be conspicuously displayed
on the premises where the business is conducted.
No person, persons or business owner shall be allowed to transact
any business within the Borough of Lawnside under any license granted
under this chapter except the business for which such license was
granted. No license provided for by this chapter shall be transferred
from one person/business to another person/business. A valid mercantile
license that is in compliance for the current year is deemed acceptable
for place-to-place transfer if originated by same person, persons
or business owner.
It shall be a condition to the issuance of any and all licenses
under this chapter that the said business shall be used and operated
only for lawful purposes.
No mercantile license shall be issued to any person who has
not complied with the laws of the State of New Jersey or the ordinances
of the Borough of Lawnside providing regulations respecting the safety
of persons who may have occasion to use the premises, place or thing
licensed. For any licensed person, persons or business owner who fails
to comply with such laws or ordinances after due notice and opportunity
to be heard, the Council of the Borough of Lawnside may revoke such
license.
Every person conducting a business required to be licensed hereby
shall permit the Borough Clerk or or other official designated by
the governing body to have access to any building or premises for
the purpose of ascertaining whether there has been compliance with
the provisions of this chapter and other ordinances and to determine
the fees to be paid, and any refusal thereof shall be deemed a violation
of this chapter and be subject to the penalties hereof.
Any proper officer is hereby authorized and directed to use
such of the police force of the Borough as is necessary to execute
and enforce all necessary and lawful police regulations as may best
protect and facilitate the carrying on of the several businesses,
trades and occupations licensed by this chapter.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall,
upon conviction, be punished for each offense by a fine not to exceed
$500 or by imprisonment for any term not exceeding 90 days in the
county jail or in any place provided by the municipality for the detention
of prisoners, or both. The Judge before whom any person is convicted
of violating this chapter shall have power to impose any fine or term
of imprisonment not exceeding the maximum fixed in this chapter. In
default of the payment of any fine imposed hereunder, any person convicted
of any violation may, in the discretion of the Judge by whom he was
convicted, be imprisoned in the county jail or place of detention
provided by the municipality for any term not exceeding 90 days.