1. (a) There is established as a special fund the Basic Business License Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, all fees collected for the issuance of a basic business license, including renewals, late renewal penalties, other penalties, and fines, shall be deposited into the Fund.
   2. (2) Half of the total amount of penalties and fines collected as a result of notices of infractions issued for basic business license violations shall also be deposited in the Fund.

3. (c) Revenue credited to the Fund shall be for:

   1. (1) Maintaining and improving the basic business licensing system;
   2. (2) Personnel and supply costs;
   3. (3) Educational and outreach activities on the requirements of this subchapter; and
   4. (4) Any other costs associated with administering this subchapter.
4. [(d)] Any money remaining available in the Fund at the end of a fiscal year, as determined by the Chief Financial Officer in the fiscal year-end close, shall be transferred to the unassigned fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia as part of the fiscal year-end close.

History

Apr. 29, 1998, D.C. Law 12-86, § 101(b), 45 DCR 1172

Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-261, § 2002(b), 46 DCR 3142

Oct. 28, 2003, D.C. Law 15-38, § 2(n), 50 DCR 6913

Apr. 13, 2005, D.C. Law 15-354, § 73(l)(7), 52 DCR 2638

Aug. 16, 2008, D.C. Law 17-219, § 2007(d), 55 DCR 7598

Oct. 22, 2009, D.C. Law 18-71, § 12(c)(4), 56 DCR 6619

Mar. 3, 2010, D.C. Law 18-111, § 2041(c), 57 DCR 181

Mar. 22, 2023, D.C. Law 24-333, § 5(c)(19)

Dec. 6, 2025, D.C. Law 26-55, § 7078

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2041(c) of Fiscal Year Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-260, January 4, 2010, 57 DCR 345).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2041(c) of Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Second Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-207, October 15, 2009, 56 DCR 8234).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(n) of Streamlining Regulation Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-145, August 11, 2003, 50 DCR 6896).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 7078 of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-146, Sept. 3, 2025, 72 DCR 9623).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 7078 of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-210, Nov. 24, 2025, 72 DCR 13514).

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 18-111, in the section heading, substituted “license fees, penalties, and fines” for “licensing fees”; and rewrote subsec. (b).

D.C. Law 18-71 rewrote subsec. (b), which had read as follows: “(b) All fees collected for the issuance of a basic business license and endorsements, including renewals and fines, shall be deposited in the Fund by the Treasurer of the District of Columbia. The entire cost of the basic business licensing system shall be paid from the Fund and no other appropriated funds may be used for that purpose.”

D.C. Law 17-219 added subsec. (d).

D.C. Law 15-354, in the section heading, validated a previously made technical correction.

D.C. Law 15-38, in subsec. (a), substituted “Basic” for “Master” and “proprietary” for “propriety”; and in subsecs. (b) and (c), substituted “basic” for “master” throughout.

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 47-2851.13.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 7-733 and § 47-2851.08.

Applicability

Applicability of D.C. Law 24-333: § 9 of D.C. Law 24-333 provided that the change made to this section by § 5(c)(19) of D.C. Law 24-333 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.

Section 7286 of D.C. Law 25-217 provided that the amendments made to this section by Section 5(c)(19) of D.C. Law 24-333 shall apply as of October 1, 2025. Therefore those amendments have been implemented.

Section 7286 of D.C. Law 25-217 amended section 9 of D.C. Law 24-333 making the amendment of this section by section 5(c)(19) of D.C. Law 24-333 applicable as of October 1, 2025.