Richmond may Penalize Unlicensed Businesses

Commissioners discussed rewriting the Richmond business license ordinance to include a penalty for unlicensed businesses. In addition to the $25 business license fee due to the city, local businesses are also required to pay a 2-percent net-profits tax to the city.

The Richmond Register reports that, “Both the mayor and other members of the commission also said they believe a number of businesses are operating in the city without being licensed and are not paying the net-profits tax.”

Commissioners first discussed imposing a $500 fine per day an unlicensed business is open, but then shelved the idea, fearing it was too harsh a measure for businesses that may be unaware of the license requirement.

City officials also discussed the possibility of hiring someone to seek out unlicensed businesses.

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