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Date Adopted:
Date Approved
Effective Date:
City Attorney Approval: ________ Ordinance No.
BILL NO.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING SECTION 7 -1101 O F THE FRESNO
MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO BUSINESS LICENSE –
EXEMPTIONS FOR DISABLED VETERANS, HONORABLY
DISCHARGED OR HONORABLY RELIEVED VETERANS
WHEREAS, In 2022, the State of California amended the California code Business and Professions Code Section 16001.7 and 16001.8 to provide that honorably discharged or honorably relieved veteran business owners be exempt from local business registration or license fees; and
WHEREAS, the City’s municipal code currently includes a business license fee exemption for disabled honorably discharged or relived veterans; and WHEREAS, this Ordinance will update the City’s municipal code to be consistent with state law; and
WHEREAS, this O rdinance shall be known as the Small -Enterprise Relief for Veteran Entrepreneurs (“SERVE”) Act.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRESNO DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 7- 1101 of the Fresno Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:
SECTION 7- 1101. – [ DISABLED VETERANS EXEMPTIONS FOR DISABLED
VETERANS, HONORABLY DISCHARGED OR HONORABLY RELIEVED
VETERANS.
[(a)] Any honorably discharged or released soldier, sailor [,] or marine[, airmen or guardian ] of the United States or of the American
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Merchant Marine or of the Military Sea Transport Service, who served or shall serve in any war in which the United States has been or may be engaged; who is physically unable to obtain a livelihood by manual labor, and who is a qualified voter of this stat e, upon producing his discharge [documents] and proof of his disability, and that he is a qualified voter of this state, may distribute circulars and hawk, peddle, and vend any goods, wares or merchandise owned by him[said person], within the City of Fresno, except spirituous, malt, vinous or other intoxicating liquor, without payment of any license tax or fee whatsoever, and the Department of Finance shall issue to such soldier, sailor or marine of the United States or of the American Merchant Marine or of the Military Sea Transport Service, without cost, a license therefor for a period of thirty days with renewal privileges. [(b) A person who is honorably discharged or honorably relieved from the Armed Forces of the United States, and is a resident of the State of California, may distribute circulars, and hawk, peddle and vend any goods, wares, or merchandise owned by that person, except spiritous, malt, or vinous, or other intoxicating liquor, without payment of any business license fee, the City shall issue to that person, without cost, a license. (c) A person who is honorably discharged or honorably relieved from the Armed Forces of the United States and is a resident of the State of California shall not be required to pay any business license fee for a business selling or providing service if the veteran is the sole proprietor of the business.
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(d) A person who is honorably discharged or honorably relieved from the Armed Forces of the United States and is a resident of the State of California may have any business license fee or tax waived for the operation of a new business for the first one year of operation, and such waiver shall not be an amount exceeding one thousand dollars ($1000.00), if the veteran is the sole proprietor of the business ; except for those businesses that sell alcohol, cannabis, or tobacco products shall be ineligible to receive any license tax fee waiver. This waiver shall be limited to a one time use per veteran for the duration of the veteran’s lifetime.] SECTION 2. This ordinance shall become effective and in full force and effect at 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first day after its final passage.
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF FRESNO ) ss.
CITY OF FRESNO )
I, TODD STERMER, City Clerk of the City of Fresno, certify that the foregoing ordinance was adopted by the Council of the City of Fresno, at a regular meeting held on the day of 2025.
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT :
ABSTAIN :
Mayor Approval: , 2025
Mayor Approval/No Return: , 2025
Mayor Veto: , 2025
Council Override Vote: , 2025
TODD STERMER, MMC
City Clerk
By:
Date
Deputy
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ANDREW JANZ
City Attorney
By:
Angela M. Karst Date
Senior Deputy City Attorney