Hall Co. moves forward on revision of county business license code

GAINESVILLE - Back in the spring, Hall County commissioners asked county staff to start work on cleaning up the county's business code, and now the commission is prepared to vote on the revamped code this Thursday.<br /> <br /> Hall County Business License Director Susan Rector presented eight changes to the Hall County Commission at a work session Monday afternoon. <br /> <br /> "The main thing that they [commissioners] wanted to do was to reduce the amount of time given to license holders who are delinquent on paying their fees," said Rector.<br /> <br /> Currently, the grace period for late fees is 90 days; under the new code, that grace period will be reduced to 30 days.<br /> <br /> Another important change, according to Rector, is requiring businesses to have a business license prior to opening; current code allows for a business to operate 30 days before having a valid operating license.<br /> <br /> Other changes in the code include:<br /> <br /> -Notifying the business license director within 30 days of a business relocation;<br /> <br /> -Having a final Certificate of Occupancy issued by Planning & Zoning/Building Inspection;<br /> <br /> -Commercial locations must show a deed or lease in the name of the owner of the business;<br /> <br /> -Allow the business license director to approve and issue renewal business licenses on businesses requiring commission approval if there are no issues or complaints with the business;<br /> <br /> -Change regulatory fees for criminal background investigation to $20;<br /> <br /> -All pro-rating of taxes every quarter on new start-up businesses.<br /> <br /> Thursday's vote will be a first reading vote on the changes; a second vote is required to enact the changes.<br /> <br /> Rector said the commission has not decided on a specific date when the new code will go into effect should all the changes be approved.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/10/280433