Title
Ordinance to Amend Chapter 18.1, Article II, Division 5, Section 18.1-131(a) of the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia, Titled, "Tax; Limitations" as it Pertains to Peddlers and Itinerant Merchants
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
Citizens have raised questions regarding the City’s “show and sale” business license, commonly referred to as a “promoter’s license.” “Show and sale” is defined in Hampton City Code §18.1-130(c) as: “a show, consisting of a group of persons or merchants, to stimulate the sale of specific classes of goods, wares, and merchandise. Any person or entity who promotes, sponsors or conducts a show and sale within the city shall obtain an itinerant merchant's license, provided no single show and sale at the same location shall continue for a period exceeding seven (7) days. A license issued to a sponsor shall be in lieu of individual itinerant merchant's licenses otherwise required for each merchant participating in the show and sale. Each person who obtains such license shall be required to report to the commissioner of the revenue and provide a list of participants prior to each event.” Concerns expressed related to both the price and a belief that the license needed to be obtained for each event, as opposed to once per year.
The Commissioner of the Revenue and the City Attorney reviewed the policies and practices of the other six (6) cities in the Hampton Roads Area. No two jurisdictions are identical, but there are some similarities. Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk each impose a per event charge in the maximum of $500.00. Chesapeake, like Hampton, imposes a $500.00 per year charge. Newport News also imposes a per year charge at the lesser amount of $325.00. Portsmouth does not have a comparable license, and requires each vendor who participates in "show and sale"- type events to individually obtain licenses at the cost of $500.00 per year.
The City’s itinerant merchant license is $500 per year. The Commissioner of the ...
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