[Adopted 11-8-1974 as Ch. 6, Art. 4, of the 1974 Code; amended in its entirety 5-14-1976 by Ord. No. 576-1]
[Amended 4-10-1981 by Ord. No. 481-3; 12-11-1992 by Ord. No. 1292-1]
Each person, firm or corporation which has not previously carried on, prosecuted, conducted or engaged in a business or occupation within the corporate limits of the City of Rehoboth Beach and which commences business part way through a license year shall pay the following license fees pursuant to the following schedule:
A. 
If business is commenced during the first three months of the license year, 100% of the applicable annual license fee.
B. 
If business is commenced during the period beginning after the first three months of the license year and ending within the first six months of the license year, 75% of the applicable annual license fee.
C. 
If business is commenced during the period after the first six months of the license year and ending within the first nine months of the license year, 50% of the applicable annual license fee.
D. 
If business is commenced during the period after the first nine months of the license year, 25% of the applicable annual license fee.
[Amended 5-13-1977; 4-10-1981 by Ord. No. 481-3; 3-12-1993 by Ord. No. 393-6; 4-17-2015 by Ord. No. 0415-07; 12-21-2018 by Ord. No. 1218-01; 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-01]
Persons, firms and corporations engaged, for profit, in selling any and all merchandise and/or given commodities within the limits of the City, at or from any given establishment, shall pay an annual license fee to the City Manager, for the use of the City, as established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties,[1] for the following:
A. 
Each establishment for the sale of alcoholic liquors for consumption on the premises, which license shall include the right to sell, in connection therewith, tidbit food items, such as nuts, popcorn, chips, crackers and the like and/or tobaccos and/or soft drinks.
B. 
Each establishment for the sale of alcoholic liquors sold only in package form, which license shall include the right to sell in connection therewith soft drinks, water, etc.
C. 
Each establishment for the sale of any merchandise and/or commodities by way of auction or downscale selling.
D. 
Automobile agency (open lot otherwise licensed).
E. 
Each establishment for the sale of any other merchandise and/or commodities and/or combination thereof, excluding always those mentioned in the preceding subsections of this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.
[Amended 5-13-1977 by Ord. No. 577-2; 4-10-1981 by Ord. No. 481-3; 3-12-1993 by Ord. No. 393-7; 4-17-2015 by Ord. No. 0415-07; 12-21-2018 by Ord. No. 1218-01; 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-01]
Persons, firms and corporations engaged, for profit, in providing facilities for use or entertainment or enjoyment at any given establishment within the limits of the City shall pay an annual license fee to the City Manager, for the use of the City, as established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties,[1] for the following:
A. 
Each place of amusement or exhibition under one roof and in single and separate ownership.
B. 
Each bank, finance company or building and loan association or trust company.
C. 
Each bicycle rental and/or vehicle rental and/or service establishment.
D. 
Each bus terminal.
E. 
For each machine or similar device which machine or device is kept, maintained or exhibited for the use or amusement of the public, the fee to be in addition to any merchant's license, and assessed to the operator or conductor of the establishment where the machine is kept, maintained or exhibited for the use or amusement of the public.
F. 
Each automatic slot machine, assessed to the operator or conductor of the establishment where the machine is kept, maintained or exhibited for the use or amusement of the public.
G. 
Product-dispensing vending machine, such as coffee, cokes, cigarettes, etc., assessed to the operator or conductor of the establishment where the machine is kept, maintained or exhibited for the use of the public.
H. 
Each service machine (washer, dryer, etc.), assessed to the operator or conductor of the establishment where the machine is kept, maintained or exhibited for the use of the public.
I. 
(Reserved)
J. 
Each pool table in any establishment, assessed to the operator or conductor of the establishment where the machine is kept, maintained or exhibited for the use or amusement of the public.
K. 
Each dance hall or nightclub charging a separate admission fee, cover charge or minimum table charge.
L. 
(Reserved)
M. 
(Reserved)
N. 
Each commercial parking lot; each commercial parking lot (under roof).
O. 
Each skating rink.
P. 
(Reserved)
Q. 
(Reserved)
R. 
Shows, plays, concerts and theatrical traveling performances given by professionals and sponsored as a business enterprise.
S. 
Each theater, show house, opera house and moving-picture house.
T. 
Each other person, firm or corporation providing facilities for use and/or entertainment, not hereinbefore mentioned.
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.
[Amended 5-13-1977 by Ord. No. 577-2; 4-10-1981 by Ord. No. 481-3; 8-10-1984 by Ord. No. 884-1; 10-10-1986 by Ord. No. 1086-6; 11-13-1992 by Ord. No. 1192-1; 3-12-1993 by Ord. No. 393-8; 4-17-2015 by Ord. No. 0415-07; 12-21-2018 by Ord. No. 1218-01; 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-01]
Persons, firms and corporations engaged, for profit, in providing services for use or entertainment or enjoyment within the limits of the City shall pay an annual license fee to the City Manager, for the use of the City, as established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties,[1] for the following:
A. 
Each auctioneer, excluding those employed exclusively by a licensee under § 120-17C of this chapter.
B. 
Each barbershop or establishment, including the privilege of selling, in connection therewith, beauty supplies.
C. 
Each massage establishment within the City.
D. 
Each massage therapist.
E. 
Each street decorator and/or advertiser soliciting his own business and collecting from merchants.
F. 
Each dry-cleaning, pressing and/or laundry establishment.
G. 
Each contractor engaged in building, alteration, repairing, remodeling, construction and/or maintenance of buildings who does not operate out of an office or warehouse located within the City limits.
H. 
Each contractor engaged in building, alteration, repairing, remodeling, construction and/or maintenance of buildings who operates out of an office or warehouse physically located within the City.
I. 
Each employment agency.
J. 
Each pawnbroker or loan establishment.
K. 
Each photography establishment, including film development and the privilege of selling, in connection therewith, photographic equipment and supplies.
L. 
Each printing and/or newspaper publishing establishment.
M. 
Each person engaged in rendering professional services, with offices in the City.
N. 
Each person licensed by the State of Delaware as a real estate broker and/or rental agent and/or insurance agent doing business in the City.
O. 
Each person employed by a real estate broker as a real estate salesperson or rental agent.
P. 
Each shoemaking and/or repairing and/or shoe-shining establishment, including the privilege of selling, in connection therewith, shoestrings, shoe-cleaning materials, shoe supplies and the like.
Q. 
Each person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of repairing and/or servicing and/or installation of radio or television, or either.
R. 
(Reserved)
S. 
(Reserved)
T. 
Each taxicab, jitney or horse-drawn vehicle for transportation of passengers.
U. 
Each pet walking service.
V. 
Each person, firm or corporation providing the following:
Conjuration
Dealing with spirits
Divining
Telling fortunes
Inspection of leaves or crystal balls
Palm reading
Phrenology
W. 
Each person, firm or corporation engaged in providing lawn cutting services, not to include landscaping.
X. 
Each person, firm or corporation providing services not hereinbefore mentioned, with an office or warehouse in the City.
Y. 
Each pedicab (meaning a human powered bicycle-type vehicle offered to transport the public, whether with or without charge).
Z. 
Each person, firm or corporation providing services not hereinbefore mentioned, without an office in the City.
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.
[Amended 4-10-1981 by Ord. No. 481-3; 3-12-1993 by Ord. No. 393-9; 4-17-2015 by Ord. No. 0415-07; 12-21-2018 by Ord. No. 1218-01; 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-01]
Persons, firms and corporations engaged, for profit, in renting rooms, cottages, cabins, private houses and apartments and/or serving food within the limits of the City shall pay an annual license fee to the City Manager, for the use of the City, as established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties,[1] for the following:
A. 
Hotels, motels, inns, rooming houses or boardinghouses or private houses offering rooms for private rental.
B. 
For each apartment of more than one room with private bath, cottage or home.
C. 
For each one-room apartment with bath.
D. 
For each cabin.
E. 
Restaurants and/or eating establishments not serving alcoholic beverages; restaurants and/or eating establishments serving alcoholic beverages.
F. 
For each bedroom in excess of two in an apartment, cottage or home.
G. 
Efficiency apartments, one room only and bath.
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.
[Amended 12-12-1986 by Ord. No. 1286-1; 4-17-2015 by Ord. No. 0415-07; 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-01]
A. 
Persons, firms and corporations engaged, for profit, in exhibiting or selling items at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Hall facilities during an exhibition event shall pay a one-time event license fee to the City Manager, for the use of the Convention Hall facilities, as follows: for each exhibitor who does not hold a valid Rehoboth mercantile license as established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.
B. 
The person(s), firm(s) or corporation(s) renting the Convention Hall facilities shall provide the City Manager with a list of the names and addresses of exhibitors at least two weeks prior to the scheduled event.
C. 
The person(s), firm(s) or corporation(s) renting the Convention Hall facilities shall be responsible for collecting the license tax from each exhibitor and forwarding the fees to the City Manager no later than 48 hours prior to opening of the scheduled event.
[Amended 6-11-1976 by Ord. No. 676-3; 4-10-1981 by Ord. No. 481-3; 3-12-1993 by Ord. No. 393-10; 11-14-1997 by Ord. No. 1197-1; 4-17-2015 by Ord. No. 0415-07; 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-01]
Solicitors and/or peddlers and/or hawkers, whether on foot, motor vehicle or horse-drawn vehicle, engaged in selling any and all merchandise and/or commodities within the limits of the City shall pay an annual license fee to the City Manager, for the use of the City, as established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties,[1] for the following:
A. 
Soliciting agents selling books, magazines, etc., or taking orders for subscriptions (local students exempt).
B. 
(Reserved)
C. 
Photographers working on the streets as a principal part of their business and/or soliciting, each camera.
D. 
Each person, firm or corporation whose place of business is not within the corporate limits of the City, but who is engaged in the business of supplying to the inhabitants of the City commodities, including but not limited to fuel, oil, gasoline, kerosene or milk, or services, including but not limited to laundry, dry cleaning or other commodities.
E. 
Each other solicitor, peddler or hawker engaged in selling any and all merchandise and/or commodities, not hereinbefore mentioned; provided, however, that no person, firm or corporation shall solicit, peddle or hawk the sale of merchandise, services or commodities nor take orders for the future delivery of merchandise or commodities or the future furnishing of services, except as provided in this article.
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.
[Added 6-14-1996 by Ord. No. 696-1; amended 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-01]
A. 
The provisions of § 120-22 shall not apply to the following:
(1) 
Any person who shall peddle, solicit, distribute or hawk within the limits of the City of Rehoboth Beach any merchandise or literature in pursuit of a religious or political activity or for the purpose of communicating a religious, political or philosophical issue and not for private profit or purely commercial purpose, provided that said person makes an oath before the City Manager, to the Mayor and Commissioners of the City of Rehoboth Beach that his or her peddling, soliciting, distributing or hawking will be in a pursuit of a religious or political activity or for the purpose of communicating on religious, political or philosophical issues and not for private profit or purely commercial purpose and register with the City Manager.
B. 
The City Manager shall, upon the making of the required oath and upon payment to him of the sum established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties,[1] allow such person to register as an unlicensed solicitor and issue an identification tag or card to such person, which shall be kept or displayed conspicuously. The City Manager may waive the making of the oath and/or the payment of the aforesaid administrative fee upon the request of such person.
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.
[Added 6-14-1996 by Ord. No. 696-1]
A. 
Persons excepted from the application of the provisions of § 120-22 by § 120-23 may peddle, solicit, distribute or hawk on any City street or public way, boardwalk, beach or any parking lot during the period from the 15th day of September of each year to the 15th day of May of the next year. During the period from the 16th day of May to the 14th day of September of each year, peddling, soliciting, distributing or hawking by such persons shall take place only in the following areas:
(1) 
At the area bounded by the curbing that encircles the City's bandstand, but shall not include the stage area and/or seating area.
B. 
Peddling, soliciting, distributing or hawking by such persons at any other places within the limits of the City of Rehoboth Beach during the period from the 16th day of May to the 14th day of September each year shall be prohibited and unlawful.
[Added 6-14-1996 by Ord. No. 696-1; amended 11-14-1997 by Ord. No. 1197-1; 11-21-2025 by Ord. No. 1125-02]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, licensed or unlicensed, to hawk, peddle or solicit within the limits of the City unless specifically exempted or excepted by this article, §§ 120-16 through 120-23, inclusive.
B. 
Any person who shall violate any provisions of this article shall be subject to the fines established in the City Schedule of Fees and Penalties,[1] and shall pay the costs of prosecution
[1]
Editor's Note: The City Schedule of Fees and Penalties is on file in the City offices.