Permits
Permits Unit
The Permits Unit is part of the Community Services Unit and is staffed by a Community Services Officer. The primary responsibility of this unit involves the oversight of businesses regulated by city and state laws. The unit regulates and maintains records of (87) different businesses in the city and approximately 500 individual permit holders.
The businesses that come under the scrutiny of the unit includes: 13 licensed bingo organizations, 10 taxicab companies with approximately 350 drivers, 19 massage establishments with 45 licensed massage therapists, 7 firearm dealers, 8 second hand dealers, 2 pawnshops, 3 contracted tow companies with 15 truck drivers, 14 solicitor businesses with 32 individual permit holders, 2 fortune tellers, 10 charitable solicitors, 5 tattoo parlors, and 4 adult bookstores. The Permits Unit closely works in conjunction with State and County agencies regarding the approval of liquor permits, business “close out” sales permits, tax delinquency sales, auctions, carnivals, liquor stores, bars, and other public events.
The unit also assists with the Voluntary Tow Program as part of the on-going Neighborhood Improvement Program.
The unit conducts quarterly advisory meetings, weekly and monthly inspections, yearly renewals, and investigates complaints against the regulated businesses to ensure full compliance with all the appropriate laws and regulations. A good deal of the unit’s time is devoted to educating the business owners about the law and the majority of the time voluntary compliance is achieved. The Permits Unit in 2002 investigated (8) illegitimate massage operations resulting in 3 business closures and there are 5 cases pending formal enforcement action and prosecution.
The Permits Unit provides support to the other members of the Community Services Unit at the various city events such as the Art and Wine Festival and the July 4th celebration in Central Park. For more information, please contact CSO Robin Flores at (408) 615-4867 or rflores@santaclaraca.gov.
Click on the links below to find the Santa Clara Municipal code relating to massages and taxicabs below:
Applications