§ 45-2-31.3. Business registration fee — Town of Smithfield.
(a) Unless otherwise provided herein, the owner and operator of each wholesale, retail,
commercial, professional service, and manufacturing business, whether sole proprietorships,
partnership, corporations, or any business entity, shall register their business situated
in the town of Smithfield with the tax assessor of the town of Smithfield. Each registration
shall contain the name of the business, the name of the owner(s) and operator(s) of
the business, the type of business to be conducted, and other basic information as
required by said tax assessor.
(b) There shall be a fee for each registration and for each annual renewal thereof. The
registration fee shall be five ($5.00) dollars. It shall be unlawful for a person
to own or operate a business described herein in the town of Smithfield without a
registration certificate issued hereunder.
(c) Upon proper registration of a business, a registration certificate shall be issued
to the registrant by the tax assessor. No other business of the same trade name shall
be allowed to register once a certificate of registration has been issued without
the approval of the prior registrant in writing. Every registration certificate shall
expire the 31st day in December and shall be renewed annually upon payment of the
required fee. No certificate shall be issued or renewed if the business fails to provide
proof from the tax collector that all municipal taxes assessed to the business, including
municipal taxes assessed to any prior business owned or operated by one or more of
the principals of the registrant at the same physical location, have been paid to
date. Every certificate of registration shall be kept in a conspicuous location on
the premises of each business establishment.
(d) Any business required to obtain a liquor, victualling, or any other license to operate
under any other section of the general laws, a condition of which is the prior payment
of Smithfield municipal taxes, shall be exempt from the requirements of this statute.
(e) Any person, whether as principal, agent, employee, or otherwise, who violates any
of the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined not to exceed twenty-five dollars
($25.00) for each month or fraction thereof that the violation continues; provided,
however, that the fine shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300). The Rhode Island
district court and the Smithfield municipal court shall have concurrent jurisdiction
to enforce the provisions of this statute. In addition to imposing the fines provided
for herein, the Rhode Island district court and the Smithfield municipal court may
order the closure of any business described herein until a registration certificate
is obtained. The fines shall inure to the town.