June 2 (UPI) -- Teens seeking extra cash by mowing lawns in Gardendale, Ala., this summer will be required to have a $110 business license, a city ordinance states.
Some young entrepreneurs have already been confronted by city officials and professional lawn care services in the Birmingham suburb, demanding to see proper certification, WBMA-TV, Birmingham, reported Thursday.
"I have never heard of a child cutting grass to have a business license," said Gardendale resident Elton Campbell, whose granddaughter mows lawns in her neighborhood. "One of the men that cuts several yards made a remark to one of our neighbors, that if he saw her cutting grass again that he was going to call Gardendale because she didn't have a business license. He's coming after a kid when a kid is at least trying to do work."
A $110 payment for a license permitting only several months of work may be extreme, Gardendale Mayor Stan Hogeland admitted. He said anyone doing work for pay in the municipality must have a business license. He admitted, though, that enforcing the law, in the case of young people seeking pocket money by mowing lawns, is not a priority. Hogeland added that he does not want to discourage teens from making money.
"I would love to have something on our books that gave a more favorable response to that student out there cutting grass, and see if there's maybe a temporary license during the summer months that targets teenagers," he said.
