License Renewals
By Robert C. Solera, Assistant Administrator Building and CE&L Dept

Business License Required
Florida Statute 205 grants the City the right to levy a tax on the privilege of conducting business within city limits. It is the responsibility of all business owners to pay this tax annually. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of the City, through its Code Enforcement and Licensing Department (CE&L), to ensure that businesses are operating legally and within a zone that permits such business.

In order to properly license a business, a business owner must acquire both:

• Occupational License; and
• Certificate of Use

Occupational License
Our CE&L personnel show all new business owners through the process of opening a new business. The Occupational License application process assures that owners have all pertinent documentation, certification, and/or registrations prior to legally operating. This may include, but is not limited to, obtaining any and all Federal, State, County or City permits, licensing, certifications, or registrations. Both State and City laws specifically prohibit CE&L from issuing an Occupational License if all legal requirements are not met.

Additionally, the Occupational License renewal process gives business owners the opportunity to submit any information that may have changed throughout the year. It is also a great occasion for the City to ensure that businesses continue to operate in an authorized manner.

Certificate of Use
The Certificate of Use process assures that, based on Land Development Regulations, zoning approval has been obtained for the location of a proposed business.

Renewal Period
A business can apply for a license anytime during the year. However, all business licenses expire annually on September 30th pursuant to Florida Statute Section 205.053 which states:

“(1) All Licenses shall be sold by the appropriate tax collector beginning August 1st of each year, are due and payable on or before September 30th of each year, and expire on September 30th of the succeeding year.”…

…“Licenses that are not renewed when due are delinquent and subject to a delinquency penalty…”

“(3) Any person who engages in any business, occupation, or profession covered by this chapter, who does not pay the required Occupational License tax within 150 days after the initial notice of tax due, and who does not obtain the required Occupational License tax is subject to civil actions and penalties, including, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, additional administrative costs incurred as a result of collection efforts, and a penalty of up to $250.00.”

Business License Renewal by September 30
Businesses that already operate in the City must renew their license by September 30, 2005 in order to avoid accruing penalties which begin on October 1, 2005. As a courtesy, all existing businesses were mailed a courtesy renewal notice on or around August 15th, 2005 which indicate the taxes due.

Penalty Fees
City Ordinance 98-45 pursuant to Section 205 established a license fee for all businesses. City Ordinance 2000-103 established fees for the required Certificate of Use as well as penalties for not obtaining Certificate of Use renewal. All businesses that did not renew their license before October 1st are subject to the following penalties:

Unlicensed businesses are in violation of a number of laws and are consequently subject to all code enforcement necessary to bring each business to legal compliance.

Apply for or Renew a Business License
To apply for a business license or to directly ask question, please visit or call the Code and Licensing Department at:

Sunny Isles Beach Government Center
18070 Collins Avenue, Floor 3
Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160
305.957.1305

Code Enforcement and Licensing Hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
From 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. enter through the 2nd and 3rd floor parking
garage only

Tuesdays & Thursdays: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. by appointment only
call 305.957.1305, contact Iveta at extension 1787.

Occupational License Information Corner

• No person, either directly or indirectly, shall, within the City limits, engage in or manage any business in the City for which a License is required without first obtaining the required License and the required Certificate of Use.
• Section 8A-172 of the City Code of Ordinances, as adopted, establishes the act of conducting any business without the required Occupational License as a misdemeanor.
• This Division can go through the process of denying the License renewal or revoking an existing License in accordance with Sections 13 of the City Occupational License Ordinance number 99-60.

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