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Council adopts changes to business-license code, debates appeal path
Summary
The council adopted Ordinance No. 2026-03-06 to amend Title 5 on business licenses, consolidating appeal processes and delegating most administrative decisions to staff while discussing options for council review of appeals on the existing record.
American Fork’s city council adopted an ordinance on March 24 that revises Title 5 of the city code governing business licenses, fees, appeals, revocation procedures, and bonding requirements.
Legal Counsel Heather Schriever explained the ordinance aims to streamline administrative processing and consolidate three separate appeal paths into one. She told the council the statute has been in place since 1998 and the city’s growth prompted a more structured process: "The reason for the change was that it was taking a policy the council has already adopted and allows staff to administer that." Council members discussed whether initial licensing and revocation decisions should remain administrative with the city administrator while leaving a final appeal to the council on the established record only; several members expressed support for staff administration with a council appellate role limited to reviewing the record.
Mayor Frost raised concern about having the ability to stop a business quickly if necessary and asked legal counsel to draft language to preserve emergency stoppage options during an appeal period. Council moved, debated, and ultimately adopted Ordinance No. 2026-03-06; members directed staff and legal counsel to return with clarifying language on appeals timing and notice to the council.
What happens next: staff will draft follow-up language on appeals timing and emergency authority and implement the revised Title 5 procedures once ordinances are codified.
