A. No vehicle for hire agency shall conduct business or operate in the City without a valid permit.

B. No vehicle for hire driver shall conduct business or operate in the City without a valid permit.

C. The City may issue a permit to a vehicle for hire agency if the agency certifies on a form acceptable to the City that it is in compliance with all of the requirements of this chapter including, but not limited to: insurance requirements, operating standards, records retention requirements, and any other requirements of the Ashland Municipal Code, and the City determines that the vehicle for hire agency actually meets all applicable standards and requirements.

D. The City may issue a permit to a vehicle for hire driver if the driver certifies on a form acceptable to the City that he or she is in compliance with all of the requirements of this chapter and any other applicable requirements of the Ashland Municipal Code, and the City determines that the vehicle for hire driver actually meets all applicable standards and requirements.

E. The City may include additional conditions, restrictions, or special provisions related to routes, hours of operation, designated pick-up or drop-off sites, lighting, or other alternate requirements in a permit if, in the City’s sole discretion, such additional conditions, restrictions, or special provisions are warranted.

F. Any permit issued under this chapter is valid for one year from the date of issue. Any renewal of a permit must be approved by the City prior to the expiration date of the current permit in order for the vehicle for hire agency or vehicle for hire driver to continue operating within the City.

G. An application fee shall be required before any permit is issued pursuant to this chapter. This fee is intended to reimburse the City for its reasonable costs in administering the requirements of this chapter and in maintaining and operating the streets within the City. The application fee for an initial permit or for any renewal of a permit shall be $5,000.00 for transportation network companies, $500.00 for taxi companies, $500.00 for limousine companies, and $60.00 for vehicle for hire drivers. The application fee shall be waived for any vehicle for hire driver who proves to the satisfaction of the City that he or she operates a wheelchair accessible vehicle or a fully electric vehicle as a vehicle for hire.

H. The application fee shall be paid to the City at the time of submitting an initial application for a permit and at the time of submitting any renewal application.

I. In addition to the requirements set forth in this chapter, all vehicle for hire agencies and vehicle for hire drivers must comply with applicable federal and state law. (Ord. 3160 §§ 1, 2, replaced, 09/18/2018)