Sharon K. Gadd, License Manager
 

RULES & REGULATIONS
PUBLISHED 12/1/2001 - VOLUME NO. 86
EFFECTIVE 12/10/2001

Pursuant to Chapter 501 of the Columbus City Codes, the following general rules and regulations are established to provide procedural requirements for the processing of licenses:
These are intended to be general rules and regulations. Specific rules and regulations pertaining to specific license categories will be provided as needed.
These rules and regulations will be distributed to the License Section staff and posted in the office of the License Section. License applicants may obtain a copy upon request.

Issuance and Renewal of License
Where applicable, the following requirements must be met prior to the issuance of a license:

• Compliance with application procedures

• Written examination

• Submission of driving background record

• Submission of criminal background record

• Inspection approval from other city and outside agencies for certain establishment, pushcart, vehicle, and carnival licenses

• Payment of the required license fee

A. Application Procedures

1. License and permit applications shall contain all information required by the City Code governing that license.

2. License and permit applications shall be on forms designated by the License Section and shall be fully completed in ink or be typewritten.

3. License and permit applications shall be completed by the following:

1. The owner of that which is to be licensed or a representative. The representative must provide to the License Section a notarized letter of authorization from the owner to file application.

2. The individual or organization that is to be licensed.

4. The required application information is for the purpose of ensuring the proper identification of applicants. The submission of incomplete or inaccurate application information is cause for the denial of a license or permit.

5. Applications for licenses and permits must be properly authenticated by License Section personnel. The applicant must furnish proof of identification as follows:

1. State of Ohio driver's license

2. State of Ohio identification card

3. Other photo identification bearing the applicant's date of birth and social security number

4. A combination of photo identification, birth certificate, and social security card. Social Security cards alone are not acceptable as an only verification of identification.

6. Applications filed with the License Section become the property of the City of Columbus and are a matter of public record as provided by law.

NOTE: Social Security Numbers will not be released under the Public Information Act.

• The spelling of the applicants name, the date of birth, Social Security Number or Federal Identification Number and the Alien Registration Number will be verified and initialed by License Section personnel. The applicant will swear or affirm that the information is true as submitted.

• Submission of a fully completed and notarized application by a licensed notary is acceptable for mail-in applications.

7. No applicant who is younger than fourteen (14) years of age is eligible to obtain a license issued by the License Section.
An applicant who is fourteen (14) to seventeen (17) years of age must obtain from a parent or legal guardian a notarized letter addressed to the License Section granting permission for the issuance of the requested license. The License Section has the discretion to verify the authenticity of such letter.
These age restrictions shall not apply to applicants for bicycle licenses.

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B. Written Examination

1. Taxicab driver applicants must pass a written examination testing the applicants knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Code requirements and rules and regulations pertaining to taxicab drivers.

2. Driver conduct

3. Directions from Port Columbus Airport to various suburbs surrounding Columbus.

4. Locations of various hotels, hospitals, business centers, etc., in Columbus.

2. Astrologer applicants must pass a written examination testing the applicants knowledge of the rules of astrology.

3. Upon application, applicants will be provided the appropriate information to prepare for the test.

4. Tests are scheduled for specific day(s) of the week in the classroom of the License Section office and are monitored by License Section personnel.

5. Tests are graded by License Section personnel and the applicant advised of the test results that same day. Test results remain the property of the City and are filed with the application.

6. Applicants must receive a grade of 76 in order to pass the test.

7. Following are testing instructions:

1. Applicants may not leave the classroom during the testing process.

2. Applicants will have three opportunities to pass the test. The applicant must wait two weeks between each test. After the third failure, the applicant must wait six months to retake the test. Leaving the classroom will be considered as one opportunity to pass the test.

3. A taxi driver applicant found cheating on a test will be immediately expelled from the classroom and will not be eligible to retake the test for a period of one month. Any subsequent cheating will cause permanent denial of the license.

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C. Criminal Background Checks

1. Criminal background checks are required of all license applicants with the exception of charitable solicitation, sponsors of parades and users of alarm systems.

2. Juvenile criminal background information is considered to be confidential and cannot be considered with the exception of applicants applying for Weapons Transaction Permits.

3. A Bond Forfeiture is not considered as a conviction.

4. The procedure for obtaining a criminal background check from a law enforcement agency may vary. License applicants will be advised at the time of inquiry or application what is procedurally necessary to obtain a criminal background record.

5. License applicants will be advised at the time of inquiry or application what type of criminal convictions will prohibit issuance of the license.

NOTE: Confirmed order-ins and warrants for arrest are cause for the denial of a license.

D. Driver's Abstract
Where applicable, applicants are required to provide a driving record obtained from the State of Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This Driver's Abstract may be no more than fourteen (14) days old at the time the license is issued.

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E. Inspections

1. The following businesses require one or more inspection approvals from the Divisions of Health, Fire, Building Regulations, Zoning and Agriculture.

1. Dance Halls

2. Pool and Billiard Rooms

3. Arcades

4. Dangerous Ordnance

5. Pushcarts

6. Carnivals/Circuses

2. Applicants for these licenses will be advised of the procedure for obtaining these approvals upon inquiry or application for the license.

F. License Fees

1. Payment of license fees may be made by check, money order, or cash. Checks and money orders are to be made payable to "City Treasurer-License Section".

2. The following procedures and penalties will apply to returned checks:

1. A service fee of $25.00 must be paid for each returned check in addition to the check amount.

2. Re-payment must be in cash, money order or bank cashier's check payable to "City Treasure-License Section".

3. Future license fees paid by check from such applicant will not be
   accepted.

3. No refund will be permitted for a properly issued license.

Transfer of License
Transfers of licenses vary depending upon individual code requirements. Applicants will be advised of requirements and procedures upon inquiry or application for transfer.

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