A Richmond bylaw amendment could prevent business owners with suspended or cancelled licences from reapplying for new business permits in the same location.
This was discussed at Tuesday's general purposes committee meeting at Richmond City Hall.
The current business licence bylaw in Richmond cannot stop business owners from reapplying for a new licence for the same or similar business, at the same location, under a new name.
Richmond city staff described this as a "loophole" and is a problem experienced throughout the Lower Mainland.
If approved, the new bylaw will stop anyone whose licence has been cancelled, is currently suspended, or is pending a cancellation or suspension hearing within the last two years, from doing so, according to a city staff report.
The restriction would also extend to anyone who's related or is a family or business partner.
The report noted the licence inspector can refuse to issue a licence if a person has unpaid fines owed to the city under this bylaw or another city bylaw.
A final decision will be made at city council on Monday, Sept. 9.
Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected]. To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our daily headline newsletter. Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
