822 Businesses Cited for Lack of Licenses
Santa Monica has cited 822 businesses for not having valid licenses this year, according to Toby Menin, city collections manager.
The citations were issued after the city Finance Department installed a computer program with information on the city’s 15,000 businesses, enabling it to enforce the city’s business tax laws more efficiently, a spokeswoman said.
Before the department obtained the computer program, inspectors checked records manually.
Business owners are required to post licenses in their establishments. Owners of businesses who have not obtained licenses are given seven days to comply. They receive two letters from the department before the case is turned over to the city attorney’s office, Menin said.
Most owners pay the license tax after being cited, but some wait until the city attorney’s office files charges, Menin said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
