Trade License Fee Collection and Issuance
1. Introduction
Formalizing, controlling, and administering matters related to protecting the health, sanitation, convenience, well-being, and all facilities of the people within the jurisdiction is the main task assigned to local authorities. Among the trades or businesses carried on within the jurisdiction, for formalizing and controlling trades or businesses that may have any adverse effect on public health, sanitation, convenience, and well-being, a license issued by the Chairman of the relevant Sabha under the provisions of the by-laws made by the Balangoda Pradeshiya Sabha under the Pradeshiya Sabha Act No. 15 of 1987 must be obtained for the place where such trade or business is carried on. Regulating this function is the responsibility of that Sabha.
Note: Standard by-laws accepted by the Sabha shall also be considered as by-laws made by the Sabha.
2. Legal Authority
I. By-laws made under Section 122 of the Pradeshiya Sabha Act No. 15 of 1987, or standard by-laws accepted by the Sabha and deemed to have been made thereunder
II. Section 167 of the Pradeshiya Sabha Act
III. Section 149 of the Pradeshiya Sabha Act
IV. Section 23C of the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980, where the industry to which the trade license relates is an industry that requires an Environmental Protection License
3. Eligibility
I. It must be a trade or business for which a license must be obtained from the Sabha under the provisions of any by-law.
II. In the case of an activity that requires an Environmental Protection License under orders made under the National Environmental Act, a valid Environmental Protection License must be in place. (Section 23C of the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980)
4. Fee
I. The amount of this fee varies based on the annual value of the place where the industry is carried on.
II. Annual value of the place where the industry is carried on – when the place is situated within the jurisdiction of a Municipal Council or Pradeshiya Sabha:
| Annual Value of the Place | License Fee (Rupees) |
|---|---|
| Not exceeding Rs. 750.00 | Rs. 500.00 |
| Exceeds Rs. 750.00 but does not exceed Rs. 1,500.00 | Rs. 750.00 |
| Exceeds Rs. 1,500.00 | Rs. 1,000.00 |
5. Documents to be Submitted
I. Application form as per the format herein
II. In the case of an activity that requires an Environmental Protection License under orders made under the National Environmental Act, a valid Environmental Protection License
6. Procedure
| Procedure | Time Period | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Distributing trade license applications simultaneously with the income source survey | Before November 15 of each year | Revenue Inspector |
| Collecting completed applications | Before November 20 of each year | Revenue Inspector |
| Comparing information in the application with income source survey information from the previous year | Before November 20 of each year | Revenue Inspector |
| Separating applications that require the Technical Officer's recommendation and applications that require the Medical Officer of Health's recommendation, and handing them over to the Subject Officer | Before November 30 of each year | Revenue Inspector |
| Through the Secretary, handing over applications requiring the Technical Officer's recommendation to the Technical Officer, and applications requiring the Medical Officer of Health's recommendation to the Medical Officer of Health | On the same day the applications are handed over by the Revenue Inspector | Subject Officer |
| Visiting the premises related to the application, conducting a site inspection, and handing over the application with observations and recommendations to the Subject Officer | Before December 15 of each year | Public Health Inspector / Technical Officer |
| Referring recommended applications to the Chairman | Before December 15 of each year | Subject Officer |
| Approving the recommendation | Before December 15 of each year | Chairman |
| Preparing the license and submitting for signature | Before December 15 of each year | Subject Officer |
| Signing the license and forwarding to the Subject Officer | Before December 15 of each year | Chairman |
| Forwarding the signed license to the front office and notifying the applicant to pay the license fee and obtain the license | Before December 15 of each year | Subject Officer |
| Paying the fee and obtaining the license (via electronic transaction facilities if available, or by coming to the front office if not) | Before January 01 of each year | Applicant |
| Collecting the fee and handing over the receipt and license to the applicant | Before January 01 of each year | Front Office Officer |
| Recording the income and updating the license fee register | Immediately upon issuing the license | Front Office Officer |
Note: If the activity for which the license is to be issued as above is an activity that requires an Environmental Protection License, the local authority shall not issue the trade license for the place where such activity is carried out until the relevant Environmental Protection License is obtained. [Section 23C of the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980, amended by the National Environmental (Amendment) Act No. 57 of 1988]
7. When the Public Health Inspector / Technical Officer Does Not Recommend Issuing the License
| Procedure | Time Period | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Referring the application to the Subject Officer stating that it cannot be recommended, giving reasons why the license cannot be issued | Before December 15 of each year | Public Health Inspector / Technical Officer |
| Notifying the applicant to rectify deficiencies | Before December 15 of each year | Subject Officer |
| Reporting that deficiencies have been rectified | Before December 15 of each year | Applicant |