Bountiful, Utah Development News

City Council Reviews and Proposes Updates to Business Regulations and Licensing

The city attorney presented proposed amendments and cleanup to Chapter 5 of the city code, focusing on special business regulations. Several existing regulations were reviewed for potential repeal or amendment due to being outdated, redundant with state law, or overly broad. Specifically, the city is considering repealing regulations for pawn brokers, public dance halls, amusement devices, and professional dancers, as these are now adequately covered by state statutes or other city ordinances. Regulations for businesses selling alcohol are being updated to align with recent state legislative changes, including an omnibus alcohol bill that allows for more local discretion in certain proximity requirements for restaurants near parks and libraries. The city is also proposing to add 'bodywork services' to the massage therapy license requirements to address concerns about human trafficking and unregulated practices, requiring such services to obtain a massage therapy license and undergo background checks. Sound amplification regulations are not being changed at this time but may be revisited later. Door-to-door sales regulations are recommended to be kept as they are, balancing protection for citizens with free speech considerations. The discussion also touched upon the accessibility of city code online, with plans to improve it.