Our city received an anonymous complaint from a nonfor-profit charitable group that Santa has not filed the proper tax exempt status papers with the city nor has he applied for a business occupational license.

In order to receive this license, Santa will have to submit experience affidavits and certification through a nationally recognized testing authority. His vehicle will have to be checked for environmental emissions and UL listed as a component assembly. Therefore, Santa is prohibited from "working" in the city until he has these issues rectified.

Unfortunately for him, the city offices are closed until Wednesday, so the earliest Santa can get this done is AFTER Christmas. It looks like the Children of North Port will be disappointed once again.

We will be notifying other jurisdictions throughout the state of Santa’s unlicensed activity and non-compliance with the Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code. Other charges are pending an investigation…