§ 13-6. Due and pay dates; expiration; delinquencies.

The annual license herein provided for shall be sold by the city manager or his/her designee beginning August 1 of each year, shall be due and payable on October 1 of each year, and shall expire on September 30 of the succeeding year. If September 30 falls on a holiday or a weekend, the license fee shall be due and payable on or before the first working day following September 30.

(a)

The fee for an occupational license in the City of Cocoa Beach shall not be less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per year.

(b)

Those annual licenses not renewed by October 1 shall be considered expired and subject to the following penalties upon renewal of the occupational license.

(1)

After October 1—Ten (10) per cent of license fee.

(2)

After November 1—Fifteen (15) per cent of license fee.

(3)

After December 1—Twenty (20) per cent of license fee.

(4)

After January 1—Twenty-five (25) per cent of license fee.

(5)

After February 1—Closing of business in addition of any other penalty prescribed by ordinance.

(c)

In addition, any person engaging in or managing any business, occupation, or profession without first obtaining the license provided for herein shall be subject to a penalty of twenty-five (25) per cent of the license fee determined to be due, in addition to any other penalty provided by law or ordinance.

(d)

No license required under this chapter shall be issued to any person, firm, association, or corporation which has acquired a business until the delinquent license fees are paid.

(e)

Any person who engages in any business, occupation, or profession covered by this chapter, who does not pay the required occupational license fee within one hundred fifty (150) days of the expiration date of said license, and who does not obtain the required occupational license is subject to civil actions and penalties, including court costs, reasonable attorneys' fee, additional administrative costs incurred as a result of collection efforts, and penalty of up to two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).

(f)

If the business activity began in a prior year, the owner is required to pay the business license fee from the point of initiation of business activity, not to exceed three (3) prior years, plus a penalty of twenty-five (25) per cent per year.

(g)

For each license obtained by any new business, occupation, or agent after April 1 of the year, one-half (½) of the license fee for one (1) year shall be paid unless otherwise provided.

(h)

The city manager or his/her designee can abate the penalty if it is determined that the owner acted in good faith on information provided by city business staff.

(Ord. No. 1345, § 1, 9-5-2002)