Today the Council unanimously approved Bill 40-20, Uniform Trader’s License Fee, which will save hard-hit Montgomery County retailers and restaurants hundreds of dollars in annual license fees as they struggle to keep the lights on, retain employees, and continue serving the community safely and responsibly.
Bill 40-20 will have the county select a uniform $15 trader’s license fee for all businesses subject to the fee, such as retailers and restaurants. Trader’s license fees currently range between $15 to $800 annually for any business that has retail inventory and are established based on the value of that inventory. This action, enabled by a 2019 Maryland law sponsored by Senator Benjamin Kramer and Delegate Al Carr, allows county businesses to pay a flat $15 annual fee starting in 2021.