Politics & Government
Licensing Deadlines Put Berkeley Businesses in a Bind
Starting July 1, the township will require businesses to be licensed and pay an annual fee.
Berkeley business owners have just ten days to apply for and acquire the newly required business license.
Township Council members recently adopted an ordinance requiring every business to obtain this license and pay an annual fee. Here's an excerpt from the ordinance.
"Hereafter, any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other entity engaging in, conducting or operating any business within the limits of the Township of Berkeley shall be required to secure a license for any business conducted or operated and to pay annually a fee to the Township of Berkeley for a license to conduct or carry on the business or operation."
Local business owners aren't objecting to the fee, though -- just to the deadline.
"The fee is small, but that's not the issue," said Larry Trainor, the owner of Far Beyond Fabricating. "We all have until July 1 to become compliant!"
The time crunch facing Berkeley's small business owners could have been avoided. Although the ordinance requiring licenses was proposed on March 24, the township's website only announced it on June 4.
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Patch.com placed three calls to Berkeley Township officials over two days, but no one responded for comment.
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