TUSTIN : Buena Park : Business-License Amnesty Re-Enacted

Businesses operating without a license or with expired licenses will be able to obtain or renew licensing without paying a penalty or facing prosecution, city officials said Monday.

The City Council voted unanimously to re-enact the Business License Tax Amnesty Program, from July through September, to allow business owners to comply with city licensing laws. The program temporarily lifts the penalties for delinquent payment, which are compounded monthly.

Businesses move into the community without realizing they need a business license,” said senior planner Dana Ogdon, a senior planner. Ogdon estimates that about 40% of the city’s businesses are operating without a valid license. City Manager William A. Huston added that the city could be losing as much as $50,000 in unpaid business license taxes.