This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot e9c7bdc869b0 · verified 2026-06-05 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
TOWN OF HOUSTON
Chapter 150 Business License
Amended June 02, 2016 150-1
ARTICLE I - ONE-TIME LICENSE REQUIRED
ARTICLE II - EXEMPTIONS
ARTICLE III - ENFORCEMENT
ARTICLE IV - POWER AND DUTIES
ARTICLE V - COMPLIANCE
ARTICLE VI - LICENSE REQUIRED FEE
ARTICLE VII - RECEIPT FOR PAYMENT OF FEES
ARTICLE VIII - APPLICATION
ARTICLE IX - ISSUANCE, EXPIRATION AND FORM
ARTICLE X - DENIAL OF LICENSE
ARTICLE XI - PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO OBTAIN LICENSE
ARTICLE XII - COLLECTION OF FEES
ARTICLE XIII - SUMMARY ACTION
ARTICLE XIV - APPEALS
ARTICLE I - ONE-TIME LICENSE REQUIRED
A one-time Business License is required for any persons, firms or corporations, within the corporate limits of the Town
of Houston, engaged for profit in selling any and all merchandise and/or given commodities from any given
establishment, providing facilities for use, entertainment, or enjoyment, providing services for use, service food, door-to-
door solicitation, peddlers or hawkers, manufacturing, whether industrial of otherwise, and any person, firm or
corporation providing services not herein mentioned doing business in Town.
Such application can be obtained from the Town Council and will be reviewed for compliance prior to receiving
approval. All applications are subject to the fees established in Chapter 175, Fees.
ARTICLE II - EXEMPTIONS
The following exemptions are not required to apply for a business license permit within the
Town of Houston
A. All nonprofit organizations
B. The selling of any form of produce grown upon a farm and/or property owned by the vendor or any
member of his or her family with whom he or she resides.
C. Anyone under sixteen (16) years of age to perform services such as grass cutting, lawn mowing and
shoveling snow.
ARTICLE III - ENFORCEMENT
The Town Council of the Town of Houston here-in-after known as (Council) and/or its designee shall, unless
specifically provided otherwise, supervise the enforcement of this chapter and have authority to grant, deny and
revoke license and permits
ARTICLE IV - POWER AND DUTIES
The Council and/or its designee shall:
A. Collect all license fees, issue licenses to and maintain all license records in the name of the Town of
Houston for all qualified persons.
B. Promulgate and enforce all reasonable rules and regulations necessary to the operation and
enforcement of this chapter.
C. Adopt all forms and prescribe the information to be given therein as to character and other relevant
matter for all necessary papers.
D. Require applicants to submit all affidavits and oaths necessary to the administration of this chapter.
Amended June 02, 2016 150-2
E. Submit all applications, in a proper case, to interested Town officials for their endorsements thereon as to
compliance by the applicant with all Town ordinances which they have the duty of enforcing.
F. Investigate and determine the eligibility of any applicant for a license pursuant to this chapter, if
required.
G. Notify any applicant of the acceptance or rejection of his/her application and, upon the refusal of any
license or permit, and at the applicant's request, state in writing the reasons therefore and deliver them to
the applicant.
H. Keep all information furnished or secured under the authority of this chapter in strict confidence. The
information shall not be subject to public inspection and shall be kept so that its contents shall not become
known except to the persons charged with the administration of this chapter.
ARTICLE V - COMPLIANCE
It shall be unlawful for any person, either directly or indirectly, to conduct any business or to use in connection
therewith, any vehicle, premises, machine or device, in whole or in part, for which a license or permit is required
by this Code, without a license or permit therefore being first procured and kept in effect at all times required.
ARTICLE VI - LICENSE REQUIRED FEE
A. Persons engaged in professional services, such as accountants, certified or public, landscape architects,
architects, optometrists, lawyers, dentists, physicians and surgeons, psychologists, physical therapists,
podiatrists, professional engineers, and veterinarians, shall pay a one-time license fee for engaging in
such professional services within the Town.
B. No license shall be required of any individual practicing a profession or trade who is in the employ of any
corporation licensed under any other provision of this chapter and who does not practice his/her
profession except in his/her capacity as an employee of such corporation; and provided further that no
attorney in the employ of any such corporation shall be required to obtain a license under this section so
as to fulfill assignments made to him/her by any state court.
C. No person shall conduct or engage in any of the following trades, businesses, or occupations within the
Town without a license and paying the appropriate fee as set forth in Chapter 175, Fees:
(1) Distributors.
(2) Gas, light, power, cable TV, telephone companies and IT.
(3) Hotels.
(4) Manufacturers.
(5) Motels.
ARTICLE VII - RECEIPT FOR PAYMENT OF FEES
Whenever a license cannot be issued at the time the application for it is made, the Council and/or its designee shall
issue a receipt to the applicant for the money paid in advance. The receipt shall not be construed as the approval of
the Council and/or his/her designee for the issuance of a license, nor shall it entitle or authorize the applicant to
open or maintain any business contrary to the provisions of this chapter.
ARTICLE VIII - APPLICATION
A.
Every applicant for a license under the provisions of this chapter shall make an application for such
license upon forms provided by the Council and/or its designee which shall include the following
information:
Amended June 02, 2016 150-3
(1) The name and business address of the licensee.
(2) The trade, business or occupation for which a license is requested.
(3) A statement that the applicant has complied and will continue to comply with all the ordinances
of the Town. The application shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of the individual
licensee or of one member of a partnership, firm or association, or of the president, secretary or a
director of a corporation applying for a license.
(4) Such other information as the Council and/or its designee deems necessary.
ARTICLE IX - ISSUANCE, EXPIRATION AND FORM
A.
Upon proper application and payment of the prescribed fee, as established in Chapter 175, Fees, a
license shall be issued to each such applicant, signed by the Council and/or its designee. Each such
license shall be valid and effective the date of issuance, to the last day of the business operation. A
record of all licenses issued and license fees paid shall be maintained by the Council.
B.
Each such license shall be upon a form provided by the Council ,and/or its designee, which shall
set forth the following information:
(1)
The name and business address of the licensee.
(2)
The trade, business or occupation for which the license is granted.
(3)
The date of issuance of the license.
(4)
The amount of the license fee paid to the Town.
ARTICLE X - DENIAL OF LICENSE
A.
The Council and/or its designee shall not approve, any application submitted or renewed under the
provisions of this chapter, unless all taxes and fees owed to the Town are paid in full on the property
at which the business is conducted.
B.
When the issuance of a license is denied and any action is instituted by the applicant to compel its
issuance, the applicant shall not engage in the business for which the license was refused unless a
license is issued to him/her pursuant to a judgment ordering it.
ARTICLE XI - PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO OBTAIN LICENSE
If the license fee is not paid within 30 days of being due, the owner shall be in violation of this chapter. The owner
shall be assessed a fine as set forth in Chapter 175, Fees, for each month the business remains in operation without a
license.
ARTICLE XII - COLLECTION OF FEES
A.
The amount of any unpaid fee, the payment of which is required pursuant to this chapter, shall
constitute a debt due the Town of Houston.
B.
The Town Solicitor shall, at the direction of the Council and/or its designee, institute civil suit in the
name of the Town of Houston to recover any unpaid fee.
C.
No civil judgment, or any act by the Town Solicitor, the Council and/or its designee or the
violating licensee, shall bar or prevent a criminal prosecution for each violation of this chapter.
Amended June 02, 2016 150-4
ARTICLE XIII - SUMMARY ACTION
A.
When the conduct of any licensee, agent or employee is so inimical to the public health, safety and
general welfare as to constitute a nuisance and thus give rise to an emergency, the Council and/or its
designee shall have the authority to summarily order the cessation of business and the close of premises
or to suspend or revoke the license.
B.
Unless waived in writing within 10 days after he/she has acted summarily, the Council and/or its
designee shall conduct a special hearing for the action in respect to the summary order as may be
therein determined. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the affected person in the manner
prescribed herein.
ARTICLE XIV - APPEALS
A.
Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Council and/or its designee, after a hearing conducted
pursuant to this chapter shall have the right to appeal to the Council by filing a written appeal with the
Council within 30 days following the effective date of the action or decision complained of. The appeal
shall set out a copy of the order or decision appealed from and shall include a statement of the facts relied
upon to avoid the order.
B.
The Council shall fix a time and place for hearing the appeal and shall serve a written notice upon the
person requesting the appeal, informing such person of the hearing. The Council shall also give
notice to its designee, if any, who shall be entitled to appear and defend the order. The findings of
the Council shall be final and conclusive and shall be served upon the person who requested the
appeal.