[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Portsmouth 6-13-1983 by Ord. No. 83-5. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any event in which manufacturers, wholesalers, and/or retailers
assemble to display or exhibit their wares and merchandise for promotion
and sale to the general public, including but not limited to art shows,
boat shows, antique shows and similar events. It shall not include
the promotion or sale of goods which takes place only as incidental
to the conducting of another event, such as a fair, festival or other
entertainment, the main purpose of which is not the promotion and
sale of goods.
No person, firm or corporation shall conduct
a trade show within the Town of Portsmouth without first having obtained
a license from the Town Council.
The adoption of this chapter shall not authorize
the conducting of trade shows in any area where such use is prohibited
by the Zoning Ordinance,[1] nor shall its adoption or the issuance of the license
exempt any land from the requirement to apply to the Zoning Board
of Review for a special exception where required by the Zoning Ordinance
or a variance.
Any person, firm or corporation which shall
be granted a license shall, prior to its issuance, pay to the Town
Clerk, for the use of the Town, a fee of $10 per exhibitor, not to
exceed, however, the sum of $100 per event; provided, however, that
no fee shall be charged to any religious and charitable societies
and volunteer fire-fighting companies duly organized and incorporated
who conduct such a show for the purpose of furthering their religious,
benevolent or fire-fighting work.
All charges made and fees received under this
chapter shall be paid to the Town Treasurer for the use of the Town.
As a condition precedent to the issuance of
a license, the Council may regulate the hours of the show, the means
of ingress and egress, the number of public safety officers (police
and/or fire) required to protect the public and such other matters
as may be reasonably necessary to protect the public health, welfare
and morals. The Council may delegate the traffic, police and fire
regulating power to the Town Administrator. The licensee shall, prior
to the issuance of the license, deposit with the Town a sum sufficient
to reimburse the Town for the costs of officials needed to keep order
at the event.
No license shall be issued until the premises
to be used have been inspected by the Fire Chief and Building Inspector
and each has filed with the licensing authority the certificates required
by R.I.G.L. § 5-22-13, or any amendments thereto. A fee
of $10 shall be paid by the licensee prior to the issuance of the
license to cover the cost of the inspection by the Building Inspector.
Any person who shall conduct a trade show without
a license shall be punished as provided by statute (R.I.G.L. § 5-22-18).
