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Business Licensing - Frequently Asked Questions:
Multi-Jurisdictional Business Licensing - Frequently Asked Questions:
Sewer Service - Frequently Asked Questions
Business Licensing -
How can I check to see if a particular business has a valid City of Sparks business license?
Please contact our office at 775-353-2360. We will be happy to assist you by providing any public information available.
How can I obtain a copy of the new business license listing for Sparks?
You may download the New Business License Listing monthly from our website by clicking here.
How do I know if I need a business license?
If your business is physically located in the city limits of Sparks, or you physically come into the city to conduct business, you must obtain a Sparks business license. This includes commercial property owners and all property managers. For more information please see Title 5 of the Sparks Municipal Code.
How much does a business license cost?
The fee to apply for a general business license is $105. This includes an $80 base fee and a $25 processing fee. Please see Specialized Business License Fees for additional fee information.
What does a City of Sparks business license allow me to do?
Your City of Sparks Business License is valid only within the City Limits of Sparks. If you plan on conducting business outside the City Limits of Sparks, you will need to obtain a business license from each additional jurisdiction you will be conducting business in, including the jurisdiction your business is located in regardless of any intent to conduct business there.
Why do I need both a State business license and a City business license?
State law requires that every person or entity doing business in the State of Nevada obtain a State business license annually. A business that meets the criteria shall not do business in the state of Nevada without the State Business License. Certain businesses may be exempt from the state business license requirement. Please contact the Nevada Secretary of State for more information.
Each city has its own business license requirements. It is important to know that most Nevada cities have a business license ordinance. Check with the appropriate City or County for their rules and regulations. If you will be conducting business within Sparks and the surrounding areas, you may need as many as four separate licenses, which include the State of Nevada, City of Sparks, City of Reno and Washoe County.
I do not sell any goods. Why do I need to register with the Nevada Department of Taxation?
All applicants must contact the Nevada Department of Taxation to obtain a compliance document prior to applying for a license. The Nevada Department of Taxation will determine if the nature of your business requires State Sales Tax. Regardless of the outcome, they will provide you with a document that says you are in compliance.
How long will it take to issue my license?
For businesses located within the City Limits of Sparks, the application and inspection process takes a minimum of 15 business days to complete and approve. For those businesses located outside the City Limits of Sparks, the application process takes a minimum of 3 business days.
How long is my license good for?
This varies by license type. All annual licenses issued by the City of Sparks are valid for 12 months from the date the Business License was issued or the date you began conducting business within the city, whichever is soonest. Gaming licenses and other quarterly licenses are valid for a period of three months (based on calendar quarters). All Alcohol Licenses are valid from the date of issue through June 30th of every year.
I have to submit a Home Occupation Permit. Will they be inspecting my home?
All Home Occupation Permits must go through the planning department to ensure that zoning is correct for the type of business you wish to operate. The planning department does reserve the right to inspect the premises if necessary.
Can I use my post office box for my business location?
No. You must have a physical location for your business. It can be a commercial location or a residential location. A post office box may only be used for mailing purposes.
Will the City of Sparks charge me any other fees in conjunction with my license?
You may be required to obtain and pay for a Fire Inspection in order for your business license to be approved and annually thereafter. Depending on the nature of your business, you may also be required to obtain an Environmental Control Permit annually as well. If you have specific questions about permits or additional fees, please see the Frequently Called Phone Numbers listing and contact the proper department.
Why is there an inspection process?
The inspection process is in place to ensure that the business location is a safe place for the public. This includes but is not limited to, ensuring proper placement of fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, proper zoning, permitted building work etc.
I did not have employees when I applied for my license. What if I hire employees later?
If you hire employees after you have filed for your business license with the City of Sparks, you do not need to provide us any additional documentation. You will need to provide your employees with a Worker’s Compensation policy pursuant to NRS 244.35505 and NRS 268.0955
Will I be notified when it is time to renew by business license?
You will receive a renewal form in the mail about 3-4 weeks prior to your license’s expiration date. The renewal form is not available online, nor can it be faxed. If you need a duplicate form please contact our office at 775-353-2360 and we will be happy to mail you out a new form. You will need to fill in your gross receipts figure from the previous 12 months and follow the instructions on the form to determine your renewal fees. For general business licenses, you will pay $80 plus $1 for every $1,000 over $10,000 in gross receipts. For specialized licenses please see here for a list of applicable fees.
*NOTE* Please besure to sign and date the form and return the form with your payment.
What are gross receipts and how do I report them?
"Gross receipts" means the total amount of the sales price of all sales within the city limits and the total charged or received for the performance of any act or service of whatever nature it may be within the city limits for which a charge is made or credit allowed, whether or not such act or service is done as a part of or in connection with the sale of materials, goods, wares, services or merchandise, and the total amount of the sales price of all sales outside the city limits where delivery is made by the seller within the city limits. For more information or for a list of exclusions, please see SMC Section 5.04.030 Gross receipts.
I am moving my business to a new location. How do I notify you?
You will need to file for a change of location. The fee is $5. You may file by coming to our office and submitting the change or we can mail the form directly to you. If you are moving to a commercial location in Sparks, inspections will take place at the new location. If you are moving to a residential location in Sparks, you will need to submit a new/additional Home Occupation Permit.
Can I apply for my business license or renew my business license online?
Not at this time. You may mail your renewal or new application or bring it to our office in person.
Can I fax my business license application or renewal form?
Faxed copies are not accepted. We require the original application with an original signature. You may turn in your paper work to our office or you may mail it in. Incomplete paperwork will be returned along with your payment and a brief explanation of the required corrections.
How can I pay for my business license application or renewal?
If you will be mailing your payment, we accept check or money order made payable to the City of Sparks. If you will be paying in person at our office, we also accept cash, Visa, MasterCard and Discover.
My company has undergone a change in ownership or my business has closed. What do I need to do?
If you are no longer in business or you sell your business, you must close your business license. Licenses are non transferable therefore the new owner of the business must apply for a new license. The renewal form may be used to close your license. Fill in the date your business closed in the grey box located in the top right half of the form where it states “Date Business Closed.” Enter your gross receipts from the date of your last renewal to the date the business closed. You will need to pay the appropriate fees for gross receipts only. *Please do not submit the $80 base fee if you are not renewing your license.*
There are changes that I need to make to my license. How do I do that?
If the changes involve an officer change, change of phone number or change of mailing address, or if you need to amend the current business description, you may do this on the renewal form. Simply cross out any incorrect information and write in the new information. If you are changing your business name, you will need to provide proof of the new business name filing.
How do I renew my business license?
You will receive a renewal form in the mail about 3-4 weeks prior to your license expiration date. The renewal form is not available online, nor can it be faxed. If you need a duplicate form please call, 775-353-2360, so one can be mailed to you.
You will need to fill in your gross receipts figure from the previous 12 months. Follow the instructions on the form to determine your renewal fees. For general business licenses, you will pay $80 plus $1 for every $1,000 over $10,000 in gross receipts. For specialized licenses see here.
*NOTE* Make sure to sign and date the form and return the form with your payment.
What is the penalty if I am late renewing my Business License?
You have a 30 day grace period beyond the expiration date to renew your license without being penalized. If payment is received beyond the 30th day past the grace period date penalties will be assessed at 25% of the total renewal fee. If the payment is received beyond the 60th day past the grace period date penalties will be assessed at 50% of the total renewal fee.
Why was my application returned to me?
If you submitted an application without all required documentation, it will be returned to you with an explanation. Please review the list of licensing requirements to ensure that you have ALL documents required before submitting your license application.
Multi-Jurisdictional Licensing -
What is a multi-jurisdictional business license?
The multi-jurisdictional license is actually a process to make it easier for a business owner to license business operations in more than one jurisdiction. If you intend to conduct your business, or offer your business services, within Reno, Sparks and/or Washoe County, you will need a separate business license for each jurisdiction.
The multi-jurisdictional business license process enables you to visit your home jurisdiction with all required business license application forms and pay a combined multi-jurisdictional license fee. The home jurisdiction may have additional inspection and/or reviewing fees which will be collected as part of the application process.
Your license application will be reviewed and approved by other agencies, prior to final approval by your home jurisdiction’s business license office. After final approval, the home jurisdiction will notify the other two jurisdictions of your approved license application. Each jurisdiction will mail its business license to you. You will have “one stop” to obtain appropriate business licenses from each jurisdiction so you can start your business or offer your business services.
Are there any license types or activities which I cannot apply through the multi-jurisdictional process?
Some business activities are not eligible for the multi-jurisdictional license process, specifically if they are privileged activities. The following business activities will still need to apply at each jurisdiction separately:
· Second hand merchandise sales
· Alcohol (intoxicating liquor) including:
o Alcohol catering
o Alcohol wholesale and/or importing
· Auctioneers
· Escort/Outcall services
· Gaming including:
o Slot Route Operators
· Locksmith
· Peddlers/solicitors including:
o Ice Cream Trucks
· Towing & Booting
· Vehicles for Hire
· Residential house cleaning
Your home jurisdiction is the jurisdiction within which your business office is, or will be, located. Your business office may be a commercial location, or a home-based business. If your business office is located outside of Washoe County, you may visit any of the 3 jurisdictions to start your application process.
Pertinent to a multi-jurisdictional business license process, there are three jurisdictions: the City of Reno, the City of Spark, and unincorporated Washoe County. Your business office will be located in one of the three jurisdictions. If your business operations or services occur within two or more of these three jurisdictions, you may use the multi-jurisdictional license process to obtain your required business licenses.
If your business office is located outside of all three jurisdictions (e.g., within Carson City) and you intend to conduct business operations or services within two or more of these jurisdictions, you may select any one of the jurisdictions as your home jurisdiction.
The only special requirement is to check the appropriate jurisdictions within which you intend to conduct business, or offer your business services, at the top of the application form. You will complete the rest of the application as normal, following instructions on the form.
You will pay a single, combined fee for your multi-jurisdictional license. The fee may be paid by cash, check or credit card at your home jurisdiction. The combined fee for all three jurisdictions is:
Reno: $ 84.00
Sparks: $ 105.00
Washoe County: $ 75.00
Your combined fee is: $264.00
If you desire to conduct business, or offer your business services, within only two of the jurisdictions, then your combined multi-jurisdictional license fee will be the sum of the two appropriate jurisdictions from the above table.
The home jurisdiction may have additional inspection and/or reviewing fees which will be collected as part of the application process.
I used the multi-jurisdictional license process to obtain my licenses, and now I need to make a change to my information (see the list immediately following for potential changes). How do I proceed?
a. Change the physical location of my business office.
b. Change the name of my business.
c. Change the mailing address for my business.
d. Change the description of the products and/or services offered by my business.
e. Change the people listed as officers and/or owners (entities) in my business.
f. Cancel my business license (going out of business in one or more jurisdictions).
You should contact your home jurisdiction and notify them of the specific changes to your business license. Your home jurisdiction will guide you through the steps and requirements to make the changes you require. Please inform the home jurisdiction if the changes apply to your business licenses within the other jurisdictions. In many cases, you will be asked to complete a supplemental business license application, or you may be asked to place your changes in writing and submit those to your home jurisdiction.
If you are physically moving your business office into another jurisdiction, you will need to contact that jurisdiction and start your business license location approval process. This jurisdiction will become your new home jurisdiction.
Remember to contact the appropriate Nevada State offices and the County Clerk, for a fictitious name certificate, with the new information (i.e., changes to your business license). You should include updated copies of any State forms and the certificate with your new or supplemental business license application. If you are not required to submit an application, please provide the updated copies to your home jurisdiction.
The home jurisdiction will process the changes to your information. This process may include additional application and/or inspection fees. Your license application may be reviewed and approved by other agencies, prior to final approval by your home jurisdiction’s business license office. After final approval to your new information, your home jurisdiction will notify the other 2 jurisdictions, each of whom will update their records and may mail you a new business license. Your home jurisdiction may also mail you a new business license.
I used the multi-jurisdictional license process last year to obtain my licenses, and now I need to renew all 3 of my licenses. How do I proceed?
Your licenses will be renewed separately with each jurisdiction. You will receive a separate notice that your license requires renewal from each jurisdiction. You should follow the instructions on that notice to renew your license. Typically, your license can be renewed through the mail with a check; however, you can also elect to visit each jurisdiction to renew your license in person.
Sewer Service -
We offer a variety of payment options. You may pay your bill in person with cash, check, money order, Visa, Master Card or Discover in our office at City Hall, mail your check or money order to our office, drop your check or money order payment in the drop box in our parking lot outside City Hall, pay online with Visa or Master Card or pay over the phone with Visa or Master Card.
Storm water is collected from streets and neighborhoods via curb, gutter, storm drains and ditches throughout the City. The storm water is routed through these systems to the North Truckee Drain for conveyance to the Truckee River. The drain itself is subject to flooding during certain storm events, especially when the water in the Truckee River rises too high. When the river floods, the North Truckee Drain also floods as there is no place for the storm water in the drain to go.
Regardless of the proximity of your residence to the river, the reality is everybody in Sparks contributes to storm water runoff and therefore, it is necessary to distribute the cost of storm water conveyance amongst all users.
The river flood protection rate of $16.23 per quarter will fund a project that willrealign the outfall of the North Truckee Drain further down the river to a more effective drainage. Once completed, the realigned drain will be a part of the City’s storm water conveyance system.
The Storm charge is the portion of your bill that goes to the maintenance and repair of the storm drains in the street.
I am renting and want to put the bill in my name. Is this possible?
Per Sparks Municipal code 13.270.010: The City shall bill the owner of the premises connected to the wastewater facilities for payment of sewer user charges. The owner of record according to the records on file with the Office of the County Assessor shall be responsible for the payment of sewer use charges as specified in this title.
Also, since the sewer cannot be turned off or disconnected, our only recourse for non-payment is to file a lien against the property, which only affects the legal owner of the property.
Does everyone pay the same amount?
All residential customers pay the same flat rate per quarter.
The City of Sparks is contracted with some sub-divisions in the City to maintain the common areas of that development in lieu of a home owner association. For questions or concerns, you may contact Rick Darby in the Parks & Recreation Department at 626-2597.
How do I dispute the late fee?
You may request an appeal form from our office. After your appeal has been reviewed, you will receive a letter in the mail notifying you of the decision. If your penalties exceed $150, your appeal must be presented to the Sewer Appeals Committee for review.
Can I make payment arrangements?
The City of Sparks offers customers the option of a monthly payment plan to assist with paying off large balances. You must complete a payment plan form that can be requested from our office. After review of your request, you will receive notification by mail. It is the customer’s responsibility to make monthly payments. We will not individually bill, nor remind you to make your monthly payments.
I have a commercial property… How are my sewer fees calculated?
Commercial sewer bills are based on your water consumption. We receive meter read information from Truckee Meadows Water Authority.
I have a commercial property, can you bill my tenant?
For commercial properties only, we can send a bill in care of a tenant. You may request a tenant waiver form in which you agree to the terms of our billing. If your tenant does not pay the bill, we will lien the property and return the billing to the legal owner of the property.
What happens if I don’t pay my sewer bill?
If we do not receive payment for more than 6 months, a lien will be filed against the property. Lien fees in the amount of, but not limited to, approximately $17 will be added to your account. If the sewer fees are delinquent for one (1) year or more, we will transfer the delinquent fees to be collected through your property tax bill with Washoe County. An additional 4% collection fee will also be added. Depending on how your taxes are paid, this may cause your monthly mortgage payment to increase.
I pay my bill through my bank bill pay service. Why does it not post immediately?
We do not have the ability to accept electronic checks. Consequently, when you use your online bill pay service to pay your sewer bill, your bank will physically print-out a check and mail it to us. Please reference your sewer account number on the check to assist in posting the payment is to your account.
I no longer live at the property/home is vacant, can you disconnect my service? Or can I temporarily suspend my service?
Per Sparks Municipal code 13.27.050: There shall be no reduction in charges for any premises to which a sewer service connection exists during any period of vacancy. All dischargers who have sewer user charges which are based on water use shall be subject to a standby charge during periods of vacancy or nonuse of facilities. This standby charge shall not be less than one unit of service per month times the effective dollar rate for one single family residential dwelling unit.
Your website has found my account, but my name doesn’t match, why not?
When you register on our web site, the name that you input must match exactly how it appears on your bill, including the capital letters.
Do you offer any discounts for senior citizens/low income?
At this time, we do not offer any type of discounts. Once a year from April to June, we offer a rebate program. Notification of the Rebate program is reflected on your bill in April along with eligibility qualifications.