City of Moscow Mills, MO Chapter 54 Business Licenses

[HISTORY: Adopted by ordinance 6-14-1993; amended 6-8-1998 by Ord. No. 70; 2-8-1999 by Ord. No. 89; 7-10-2000 by Ord. No. 108; 1-14-2002 by Ord. No. 147; 10-15-2002 by Ord. No. 172; 7-10-2006 by Ord. No. 338; 6-25-2007 by Ord. No. 415; 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 532; 11-14-2012 by Ord. No. 645. Amendments after 5-13-2020 are noted off of the specific articles, sections or subsections affected.]

§ 54.010 Definition of "business."

A. For the purpose of this chapter, "business" is defined as a person, business or other legal entity doing business within the City of Moscow Mills and maintaining an office or place of business within the City limits for more than 30 consecutive days in a given year.

B. "Business" shall not include a person following for a livelihood the profession or calling of minister of the gospel, duly accredited Christian Science practitioner, teacher, professor in a college, priest, lawyer, certified public accountant, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, chiropodist, or physician or surgeon in the City.

C. "Business" shall not include any person following for a livelihood the profession of insurance agent or broker, veterinarian, architect, professional engineer, land surveyor, auctioneer, or real estate broker or salesman in the City unless that person maintains a business office within the City of Moscow Mills.

D. "Business" shall not include any person selling goods or services for not-for-profit or charitable purposes on a temporary basis or any person selling agriculture products at a temporary location.

§ 54.020 License required.

All businesses shall be required to purchase and keep on display a City of Moscow Mills business license. Any business operated under the same name at multiple locations shall be required to have a separate license for each such location.

§ 54.030 Payment for license.

[Amended 9-14-2020 by Ord. No. 917; Amended 7-10-2023 by Ord. No. 1040]

Business licenses shall be purchased at City Hall from the City Clerk each year at a cost of at least $75. Lost, stolen or destroyed business licenses shall be replaced within 30 days after such loss upon appropriate application for replacement at City Hall and upon payment of a replacement fee of $5. Business licenses shall be effective from July 1 through the next June 30. Business licenses bought in May or June of any given year will be valid until June 30 of the following year. Business licenses bought after July 1 in any given year shall only be valid until the next June 30 with no proration of the fee.

§ 54.040 Denial of license.

No business license shall be issued to applicants who have outstanding water and/or sewer charges due to the City. No business license shall be issued to applicants who have outstanding taxes, assessments, judgments, fines, or court costs due to the City. The City Clerk may establish procedures to ensure compliance with this section.

§ 54.050 Compliance with ordinances and state statutes.

A. All holders of business licenses shall comply with all City ordinances and State Statutes.

B. Business licenses may be revoked by the Board of Aldermen when it is found that the holder of a business license is in violation of City ordinances or State Statute, or that the applicant provided false information to obtain a business license. Prior to revocation, the holder of the business license shall be given a ten-day written notice and an opportunity to be heard at a regularly scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting.

C. Any business that continues to do business after such revocation shall be liable for fines and penalties prescribed in § 54.060.

§ 54.060 Violations — penalty.

Any business doing business in the City of Moscow Mills who does not obtain and/or display a Moscow Mills business license shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or by both. Each day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense.