It is unlawful for any peddler, hawker, canvasser, solicitor or transient merchant to engage in any business within the City of Mountlake Terrace without first obtaining a license under this chapter to do so. The license required under this chapter is in addition to the general business license that may be required under Chapter 5.05 MTMC.
Each peddler as defined in this chapter shall be required to carry their license upon their person and shall produce the same for inspection upon the demand of the business license clerk or designee, any police officer or any customer.
(Ord. 2846 § 2, 2024)
Before the license required by this chapter is issued to any peddler, canvasser, solicitor, hawker or transient merchant or any other firm for which the license is required by any ordinance of the City a waiting period of 48 hours must elapse from the time application is made for such license before issuance date thereof, which period shall be for the purpose of investigating the applicant and product as to character, responsibility and trustworthiness. Any applicant for a license shall deposit an investigation fee with the City, which sum shall be for the purpose of defraying the cost of making such investigation as aforesaid and shall not be returned to the applicant whether a license was issued or not. The investigation fee shall not apply upon the cost of the license itself but shall be over and above any license fee as may be required.
(Ord. 2846 § 2, 2024)
At any time during the investigation period when it is determined that the applicant and product is qualified, a license shall be issued in the usual manner provided the period may be dispensed with if the license is a renewal of a previous license.
(Ord. 2846 § 2, 2024)
Applicants for a license under this chapter must file with the Community and Economic Development Department a sworn application in writing on a form to be furnished by the Community and Economic Development Department which shall give the following information:
A. 
Name of the applicant;
B. 
Complete permanent home and local address of the applicant, and in the case of transient merchants a local address from which proposed sales will be made;
C. 
A brief description of the nature of the business and goods to be sold;
D. 
If employed, the name and address of the employer together with the credentials therefrom establishing the exact relationship;
E. 
The length of time for which the right to do business is desired;
F. 
The source of supply of the goods or property proposed to be sold or orders taken for the sale thereof, where such goods or products are located at the time the application is filed and the proposed method of delivery;
G. 
The name of two persons who will certify as to the applicant's good character and business respectability;
H. 
A statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted of any crime, misdemeanor or violation of any municipal ordinance other than traffic violations, the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor; and
I. 
The last three cities or towns where the applicant carried on a business immediately preceding the date of application and the addresses from which such business was conducted in those municipalities.
(Ord. 2846 § 2, 2024)
The terms of this chapter shall not apply to:
A. 
Persons selling personal property at wholesale to dealers in such articles;
B. 
Newspaper delivery;
C. 
Merchants or their employees delivering goods in the regular course of business;
D. 
Persons conducting garage sales;
E. 
Any farmer, gardener or other person, without license, who sells, delivers or peddles any fruits, vegetables, berries, eggs or any farm produce or edibles raised, gathered, produced or manufactured by such person; provided, that nothing in this subsection authorizes any person to sell, deliver or peddle without license, any dairy product, meat, poultry, eel, fish, mollusk or shellfish; or
F. 
Sales or solicitations conducted by a nonprofit, charitable, religious, patriotic or philanthropic organization; provided, however, that such organization, association or corporation shall furnish all of its members, agents or representatives conducting solicitation credentials, stating the name of the organization, the name of the agent and the purpose of the solicitation;
G. 
Vendors associated with a City-sponsored event i.e., National Night Out or similar.
(Ord. 2846 § 2, 2024)
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $1,000, or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 2846 § 2, 2024)