TITLE 45
Towns and cities
CHAPTER 45-2
General Powers
SECTION 45-2-31.3
§ 45-2-31.3 Business registration fee
Town of Smithfield.
(a) Unless otherwise provided herein, the owner and operator of each wholesale,
retail, commercial, professional service, and manufacturing business, whether
sole proprietorships, partnership, corporations, or any business entity, shall
register their business situated in the town of Smithfield with the tax
assessor of the town of Smithfield. Each registration shall contain the name of
the business, the name of the owner(s) and operator(s) of the business, the
type of business to be conducted, and other basic information as required by
said tax assessor.
(b) There shall be a fee for each registration and for each
annual renewal thereof. The registration fee shall be five ($5.00) dollars. It
shall be unlawful for a person to own or operate a business described herein in
the town of Smithfield without a registration certificate issued hereunder.
(c) Upon proper registration of a business, a registration
certificate shall be issued to the registrant by the tax assessor. No other
business of the same trade name shall be allowed to register once a certificate
of registration has been issued without the approval of the prior registrant in
writing. Every registration certificate shall expire the 31st day in December
and shall be renewed annually upon payment of the required fee. No certificate
shall be issued or renewed if the business fails to provide proof from the tax
collector that all municipal taxes assessed to the business, including
municipal taxes assessed to any prior business owned or operated by one or more
of the principals of the registrant at the same physical location, have been
paid to date. Every certificate of registration shall be kept in a conspicuous
location on the premises of each business establishment.
(d) Any business required to obtain a liquor, victualling, or
any other license to operate under any other section of the general laws, a
condition of which is the prior payment of Smithfield municipal taxes, shall be
exempt from the requirements of this statute.
(e) Any person, whether as principal, agent, employee, or
otherwise, who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined
not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each month or fraction thereof
that the violation continues; provided, however, that the fine shall not exceed
three hundred dollars ($300). The Rhode Island district court and the
Smithfield municipal court shall have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce the
provisions of this statute. In addition to imposing the fines provided for
herein, the Rhode Island district court and the Smithfield municipal court may
order the closure of any business described herein until a registration
certificate is obtained. The fines shall inure to the town.
History of Section.
(P.L. 2010, ch. 94, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 115, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 187,
§ 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 218, § 1.)
