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Some Alabama teens will be required to obtain costly business license to cut grass this summer
Alabama teens are required to purchase a business license to mow yards this summer, and they are receiving pressure from city officials and professional lawn cutting services to present a license. (Getty Images)

Some Alabama teens will be required to obtain costly business license to cut grass this summer

Teens living in Gardendale, Alabama, will be required by city ordinance to acquire a business license to operate a lawn mowing service over the summer.

WBMA-TV reports that teenagers have already been confronted by city officials and professional lawn cutting services and asked to show their licenses for cutting grass for money.

The license itself costs $110 to acquire. WBMA notes that for a teen working for low pay over the course of two months, the price "can be a bit extreme."

Gardendale teen Allaina Parris charges from $20 to $40 a lawn, according to her grandfather Elton Campbell. Parris says she's attempting to raise money for "admissions and trips" but the city ordinance has made the lawn cutting venture a hassle.

"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,'" Campbell said.

"He's coming after a kid when a kid is at least trying to do work. There's kids at home on iPads and electronics and not wanting to go outside," Parris said.

Gardendale Mayor Stan Hogeland said that anyone operating within the city for pay must have a business license, but admitted that sending officials from the city after a teen for cutting grass is not a priority. Hogeland said its unfortunate a teen cutting grass triggered complaints, and that he doesn't want this to discourage kids from making money for themselves.

"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," Hogeland told WBMA.

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