The Innsbrook village government will require all businesses operating in the village to have business permits starting July 1.
This is a new requirement for the village, which in recent years …
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The Innsbrook village government will require all businesses operating in the village to have business permits starting July 1.
This is a new requirement for the village, which in recent years has seen significant growth beyond the historical boundaries of the Innsbrook resort community. With that growth has come commercial activity, and the Innsbrook Village Board of Trustees says it wants to ensure that business activities aren’t disturbing residents.
Trustees voted on April 14 to require all businesses and merchants to submit an application for a business license, including information about the proprietor, address, planned activities and government tax ID.
Business permits will have to be renewed annually, and will help the village ensure that all laws are being followed and that businesses aren’t disturbing the welfare of residents, trustees said in an ordinance that passed with a 5-0 vote.
Notably, the permit requirement includes any property that is operating primarily as a rental house. Short-term vacation rental properties, and potential disturbances from them, are an issue the village has been grappling with for some time.
Under the new business permit rules, the board of trustees can revoke the permit of any business that violates the village’s nuisance ordinance or becomes a “menace to the health, safety or general welfare of the public.” Businesses operating without a permit could be subject to a fine of up to $500 per day.
Newly elected Trustee Dan Reuter clarified on April 14 that the permit rules will apply to all current operations, as well as future businesses. He asked how the village will achieve compliance from existing businesses.
Assistant village attorney Nathan Bruns with the Graville Law Firm advised that between now and July 1, the village should publicize notices to increase awareness and gain compliance with the permit requirement.
The business permit ordinance includes a list of professions that do not require a business permit, mostly for religious ministers and highly regulated professions that are licensed by state agencies.
Bruns explained that those professions are mostly exempt from permit requirements by state law.
“The goal is if you engage in a profession, like a real estate agent, that’s already regulated by the state, that’s not something we need to make those individuals get a permit for,” Bruns commented.
Before voting on the ordinance, Trustee Trish Dunn asked if a person in one of the exempt professions, such as a real estate agent, was also exempt from needing a permit for any other type of business.
“Not if you’re running a different business. (The exemption) is specific to the business you’re running,” Bruns replied.
For example, he said a real estate agent that also manages rental properties would still need a permit for the rentals.
“You’re not acting as a real estate agent in that capacity,” he said.