TOWNSHIP OF MULLICA

 

ORDINANCE 04-2026

 

ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MULLICA CREATING A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MULLICA CAPTIONED “BUSINESS REGISTRATION LICENSES”

 

 

WHEREAS, on a periodic basis the Mayor and Township Committee of the Township of Mullica reviews its present Ordinances, policies and procedures to determine if any changes, amendments or new Ordinances, policies or procedures should be enacted; and

 

WHEREAS, as a result of this process, it has been determined that a new Chapter should be included in the Code of the Township of Mullica captioned “Business Registration Licenses”.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Township Committee of the Township of Mullica, County of Atlantic, State of New Jersey, as follows:

 

Section 1.         Definitions.

 

Unless otherwise stated, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this Chapter, have the meanings indicated in this section:

 

BUSINESS ENTITY – Any new or existing commercial business, trade, profession, occupation, or service conducted in the Township of Mullica.

 

BUSINESS REGISTRATION LICENSE – The license is issued to any business entity. A license such as Towing, Liquor, Mobile Home Park will be a separately issued License.

 

PERSON- An individual, firm, corporation, association or partnership.

 

Section 2.         License required.

 

No person or business entity shall engage in or carry on any business, trade,

profession, occupation or service, including any business entity licensed by the State of New Jersey or the government of the United States, unless a license as herein provided for shall have been first obtained by said person or business entity engaging in said business, trade, profession, occupation or service.  All persons or business entities presently in existence and now required to be licensed, and not heretofore, licensed, shall apply for the license by May 1, 2026, to become effective June 1, 2026.

 

 

Section 3.         Application; display of license.

 

  1. An application for a business registration license shall be made to the Township Clerk of the Township of Mullica, and the license shall specify, by name, the person, firm or corporation to which it is granted and the location at which such business, trade, profession, occupation or service is conducted. Each application shall include the following information:

 

  1. Name under which business is to be conducted.
  2. Name and address of business owner.
  3. Address of business.
  4. Type of business.
  5. Telephone number for business.
  6. State tax identification number, New Jersey Business Registration Certificate Number.
  7. Certificate of Insurance: section 14B
  8. If the property is owned by applicant or leased. If property is leased, the name and address and telephone number of the property owner.
  9. The business registration license shall be conspicuously displayed on the premises where the business is conducted.

 

Section 4.         Compliance with land use regulations; zoning license.

 

Upon an application being made the Township Clerk shall provide a copy to the Township Zoning Official, who shall review the type of business entity and the location of the business entity to determine compliance with the Township Land Use, Development and Zoning Ordinance and if it has been issued a Certificate of Occupancy.  If the business entity is in compliance with the Township Land Use, Development and Zoning Ordinance and has been issued a Certificate of Occupancy, a zoning license shall be issued and attached to the business registration license.  No business entity may conduct a business, trade, profession, occupation or service without both a business registration license and zoning license.

 

Section 5.         Lease Termination Date, Renewals.

 

All business registration licenses shall be for a one-year period from June 1st to May 31st.  The business registration license shall be renewed each year from the date of issue to May 31st.

 

Section 6.         Fee.

 

On June 1 of each license renewal year, all business entities operating within the boundaries of the Township of Mullica shall pay a fee in the sum of $100.00 for a business registration for that year. This fee shall license the businesses to be in good standing for a period from the June 1 issuance date. For any new business, the business registration fee shall be an initial fee of $25.00 plus the one-year business registration fee of $100.00. A late fee of $25.00 shall be paid to the Township for any renewal application submitted after June 31st.

 

Section 7.         Purpose of Fees.

 

The fees imposed for business registration are necessary to cover costs of administrative processing and investigative purposes.

 

Section 8.         License to be exclusive.

 

No person or persons shall be allowed to transact a business under any license granted pursuant to this Chapter except the business for which said license was granted.

 

Section 9.         Compliance; non-transferability.

 

  1. No business registration license shall be issued to any person or entity who has not complied with the laws of the State of New Jersey or the ordinances of the Township of Mullica as to regulations concerning the safety of the persons who may have occasion to use the premises, place or thing being licensed. Any person or business entity who fails to comply with any State law of the State of New Jersey or Township ordinances after due notice of the alleged violations shall be provided an opportunity to be heard at a public meeting by the Mayor and Township Committee on a date to be set by the Mayor and Township Committee.  Following said hearing, if the Mayor and Committee have determined that the violation(s) have been proved, said license may be either temporarily or permanently revoked as the Mayor and Township Committee shall deem appropriate based on the violation(s).

 

  1. In no event shall a license be issued or renewed if the license holder is the owner of the real estate where the business is to be conducted if there are any property taxes or assessments or other fees due to the Township.

 

  1. No business registration license provided for by this Chapter shall be transferred from one person to another person and no license shall cover any other place of business other than that for which it was issued.

 

  1. In the event of a sale of a business, an expansion of the existing business use, a change in the existing business use, or a change in ownership, a new application is required to be filed with the Township Clerk and a fee of $100.00 shall be paid to the Township in order to continue the business registration license for that year.

 

Section 10.       Non-applicability.

 

This Chapter shall not apply to:

 

  1. Persons who have a home office that is restricted to computer and telephone communications and does not create an increase in traffic in residential neighborhoods; or

 

  1. The delivery of newspapers, magazines or periodicals; or

 

  1. Residents within the Township who utilize property for the selling of farm products locally grown within the Township.

 

 

Section 11.       Exemption from Fee.

 

All Government Entities are exempt from payment of registration fee.

 

Section 12.       Local Authority Designation for Enforcement.

 

The Local Enforcement Authority for purposes of ensuring compliance with enforcement of all rules, regulations and requirements set forth in this Chapter shall be the Mullica Township Zoning Official, Code Enforcement Officer or authorized designee.  Every person conducting a business required to be licensed shall permit entry to the Township Code Enforcement Officer and Zoning Official to ensure compliance with this Chapter and the laws of the State of New Jersey and ordinances of the Township.  Any refusal shall be a violation of this Chapter and subject to the penalties set forth herein including suspension of the business registration license.

 

Section 13.       Violations and penalties.

 

Any person, firm, association or corporation violating any section of this Chapter, with the exception of Section 14 below as set forth in Section 14(b),shall, upon conviction before the Judge of the Municipal Court having jurisdiction, be subject to the following fines:

 

  1. First offense: $150.
  2. Second offense: $300.
  3. Any subsequent offense: $500.

 

Section 14.       Business Insurance Registration.

 

  1. Business Insurance Registration is required.  It is unlawful for any owner of a business to operate within the Township without first registering its Certificate of Insurance demonstrating proof of Liability Insurance for negligent acts and admissions in an amount no less than $500,000.00 for combined property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more persons in any one incident or occurrence.  The Certificate of Insurance is required to be filed annually with the Municipal Clerk with the renewal registration fee.

 

  1. Any person who violates the terms of this Section is subject to a fine of not less than $500 but no more than $5,000 plus court costs.

 

Section 15.         All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances, inconsistent with this Ordinance, are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency only.

 

Section 16.         Should any section, subsection, part, clause or phrase of this Ordinance be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the remaining portions of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect, and to that end, the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.

 

Section 17.         This Ordinance shall take effect after final adoption and publication as required by law.

 

 

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the foregoing ordinance was introduced and passed at a meeting of the Township Committee of the Township of Mullica, held on February 27, 2026.  Ordinance #04-2026 will be further considered for final passage after public hearing at a meeting of said Township Committee to be held in the Mullica Township School, 500 Elwood Road, Elwood, New Jersey, on March 24, 2026, beginning at 7:00 P.M., at which time and place all persons interested will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning such ordinance A copy of this Ordinance is available online and a copy shall be made immediately available at the Township Clerk’s Office in the Township Municipal Building located at 4528 S. White Horse Pike, Elwood, New Jersey at no cost to those members of the general public requesting same.

 

Monica Newton,

Acting Municipal Clerk

Mullica Township

Publication Date: March 3, 2026