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Village of Hempstead, NY
Nassau County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Amended 3-19-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in or carry on any business, trade or calling in the Village of Hempstead without first obtaining a license therefor in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 4-20-1993 by L.L. No. 4-1993]
The Village Clerk is hereby designated as the License Commissioner of the Village, with the authority to make such rules and regulations and to conduct investigations in relation to the issuance, renewal, amendment, termination, cancellation, revocation and suspension of licenses or permits required by the provisions of this Code, except for those licenses or permits required by the provisions of this Code or other law to be issued by another department, division or agency.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, every applicant for a license shall file a statement with the Village Clerk, which statement shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant in person if an individual, by all partners if a partnership and by the president or duly authorized officer if a corporation, showing:
A. 
Name.
B. 
Business address.
C. 
Residence address.
D. 
Age.
E. 
Purpose.
F. 
Location of licensed premises.
G. 
Criminal history. Whether or not the applicant or, in the case of a corporation, whether any officer or director thereof has been convicted of a crime, offense or violation of any municipal ordinance or law, and if so, the municipality or jurisdiction where the offense occurred, the nature of the same and the penalty assessed therefor.
H. 
Photographs. Two clear photographs of the applicant taken not more than 60 days before the submission of the application, which photographs shall be two inches by two inches, showing the head and shoulders of the applicant. In case of a corporation, the officer or agent principally engaged in the activities within the Village shall furnish such photographs.
[Amended 4-20-1993 by L.L. No. 4-1993]
The completed application, together with the appropriate fee, which shall be nonrefundable and shall be applied to the cost of conducting the investigation and other administrative costs in processing the application, shall be submitted to the Village Clerk, who shall thereupon cause an investigation to be made into all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the application.
[Amended 4-20-1993 by L.L. No. 4-1993]
After such investigation, if the Village Clerk shall be satisfied that the applicant is of good character and the issuance or renewal of a license would not be detrimental to the best interests of the Village or the public, the Village Clerk shall issue a license or renewal of a license; otherwise, the Village Clerk shall deny the application.
The Village Clerk shall keep a record of each license issued, including the number and date of issuance of the license, the expiration date and purpose for which it is granted and the amount of the fee paid therefor. Upon presentation of such license to the Clerk of the Village, properly signed and counter-signed, and the payment to the Clerk of the fee therein specified, the Clerk shall endorse upon the face of the license his receipt for the license fee, showing that such fee is paid in full therefor. No license shall take effect nor shall it grant any rights to the licensee named therein until the receipt of the Clerk shall have been so endorsed thereon.
[Amended 3-20-2012 by L.L. No. 4-2012; 6-20-2017 by L.L. No. 2-2017]
Each license shall specify the purpose and length of time for which it is granted and when it shall expire. All licenses granted as provided in this chapter shall expire two years from the date of issuance, except such licenses as may be granted for one or more days, weeks or months as specifically provided elsewhere in this Code. Licenses not renewed two years from the date of issuance will be subject to an additional twenty-five-dollar penalty for every 30 days past the expiration date.
A. 
Each licensee shall display the license in a conspicuous place at his place of business; however, when the licensee does not have a fixed place of business, he shall carry the license upon his person at all times while engaged in the licensed activity. Any licensee shall, upon demand of any person, display the license.
B. 
Any person required to obtain a license, tag, badge or similar identifying device in connection with his operation of either a vehicle or any licensed activity shall wear such license, tag, badge or similar device constantly on his outer garment in such a way as to be conspicuous during such time as said licensee is conducting the licensed activity.
C. 
Any words, letters or numbers prescribed by any provision of this Code for licensed vehicles shall be displayed permanently and conspicuously on the outside thereof, unless specifically required to be affixed otherwise or in a particular place by any other provision of this Code, in colors contrasting strongly with the background of the vehicle and not less than two inches in height. The same shall be kept legible and plainly visible at all times during the term of the license; and upon change of ownership or expiration of the license, the same shall be obliterated or otherwise erased. No person shall own or operate any vehicle with words, letters or numbers thereon similar to those prescribed for licensed vehicles without first being duly licensed therefor.
Each person holding a license issued under any provision of this chapter shall notify the Village Clerk in writing of any change of residence or place of business within seven days of such change.
[Amended 4-20-1993 by L.L. No. 4-1993]
In the event of the denial of an application for a license or a renewal thereof, the Village Clerk shall give written notice thereof to the applicant by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. The applicant shall have the right to appeal such decision to the Board of Trustees, provided that a notice of appeal is filed, in writing, with the Village Clerk and actually received by the Village Clerk within 10 days from the mailing of the notice denying the application.
The grounds for the suspension or revocation of a license issued pursuant to this chapter are as follows:
A. 
A misrepresentation or false statement contained in the application for a license.
B. 
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement made in the course of carrying on any business or activity which is licensed.
C. 
The violation of any provision of this chapter or the provisions of this Code or other ordinance or local law or any statute regulating the licensed activity.
D. 
Conviction of the licensee of any crime.
E. 
Conducting any business activity which is regulated by the provisions of this Code or any other law requiring the license in such a manner as to constitute a breach of the peace or to endanger the health, safety or general welfare of the public.
F. 
Any series of occurrences which cumulatively has the effect of disturbing the tranquility of the Village or a part thereof or causes reasonable apprehension of there being a disturbance of such tranquility.
[Added 1-17-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
G. 
Violation of any stipulation or condition imposed by the Board of Trustees upon the granting or renewal of any such license and/or any stipulation or condition imposed by any Village Board in relation to the use and occupancy of the property.
[Added 1-17-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
[Amended 4-20-1993 by L.L. No. 3-1993]
A. 
The Village Clerk may suspend any license granted pursuant to this chapter by the giving of written notice to that effect to the licensee by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. The Board of Trustees shall promptly hold a hearing concerning the facts and circumstances prompting the suspension and shall continue the suspension of the license for a fixed period of time or reinstate or revoke the license.
B. 
Any notice to be given by the Board of Trustees under this chapter shall be deemed to have been duly given when:
[Amended 1-17-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
(1) 
Served personally upon the licensed person or sent by registered or certified mail addressed to his last known address; or
(2) 
In the case of a corporate licensee, served personally upon an officer of said corporate licensee or sent by registered or certified mail addressed to an officer thereof at his residence, together with a copy of the notice by ordinary mail to the address of the licensed premises; or
(3) 
Served personally upon or sent by registered or certified mail to the agent designated under § 86-3; or
(4) 
Served in any manner otherwise specifically provided in this chapter or in any other lawful manner.
[Amended 12-15-1981 by L.L. No. 32-1981; 12-15-1983 by L.L. No. 20-1983; 5-16-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995; 3-19-1996 by L.L. No. 3-1996; 5-5-1998 by L.L. No. 3-1998; 6-1-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010; 6-20-2017 by L.L. No. 2-2017]
The biannual license fee for any business, trade or calling shall be $300, except as follows:
Description
Fee
1 coin-operated entertainment and amusement device
$300
2 coin-operated entertainment and amusement devices
$600
3 coin-operated entertainment and amusement devices
$900
4 coin-operated entertainment and amusement devices
$1,200
5 coin-operated entertainment and amusement devices
$1,400
Tow cars  —  restricted  — , filing fee for original application
$300
Tow cars  —  restricted  — , filing fee for additional renewal car
$300
Tow cars  —  restricted  — , annual fee, 1 vehicle
$300
Tow cars  —  restricted  — , annual fee, 2 vehicles
$600
Tow cars  —  restricted  — , annual fee, 3 vehicles
$900
Tow cars  —  restricted  — , annual fee, 4 vehicles
$1,200
Tow cars  —  restricted  — , annual fee, 5 vehicles
$1,500
Tow cars  —  restricted  — , replacement of card or sticker
$38
Tow car driver's license
$180
Tow car driver's license renewal
$120
Bowling alley, per alley
$150
Hotel or motel
$600
Parking field business 40,000 to 50,000 square feet
$600
Parking field business 120,000 to 130,000 square feet
$1,200
Pawnbroker
$600
Secondhand dealer: gold, silver, coins, precious metals
$750
Taxicab license
$750
Taxicab driver's license
$180
Taxicab driver's license renewal
$120
Theater from 100 to 1,000
$450
Theater from 1,000 to 2,000
$750
Theater from 2,001 to 3,000 
$1,050
Tow cars  —  unrestricted  — , filing fee for original application
$300
Tow cars  —  unrestricted  — , filing fee, additional application
$300
Tow cars  —  unrestricted  — , annual fee, first vehicle
$300
Tow cars  —  unrestricted  — , annual fee, 2 vehicles
$600
Tow cars  —  unrestricted  — , annual fee, 3 vehicles
$900
Tow cars  —  unrestricted  — , annual fee, 4 vehicles
$1,200
Tow cars  —  unrestricted  — , annual fee, 5 vehicles
$1,500
Tow cars  —  unrestricted  — , replacement of card or sticker
$38
Vehicles used for peddling and soliciting
$450