Transfer of ownership or control.
Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.08.280
in effect6.08.280 - Transfer of ownership or control.
(A) A franchisee's obligations under its franchise involve personal services whose performance involves personal credit, trust and confidence in the franchisee.
(B) No transfer of ownership or control shall occur unless prior application is made by the franchisee to the City, and the City Council's prior written consent is obtained, pursuant to this Chapter and the franchise agreement, and only then upon such terms and conditions as the City Council deems necessary and proper. Any such transfer of ownership or control without the prior written consent of the City Council shall be considered to impair the City's assurance of due performance. The granting of approval for a transfer of ownership or control in one instance shall not be deemed as granting approval of any subsequent transfer of ownership or control.
(C) Approval by the City Council of a transfer of ownership or control does not constitute a waiver or release of any of the rights of the City under this Chapter or a franchise agreement, whether arising before or after the date of the transfer of ownership or control.
(D) A franchisee shall promptly notify the Franchise Officer of any proposed transfer of ownership or control.
(E) Prior to any transfer of ownership or control, the franchisee shall submit to the Franchise Officer a written request for approval of the transfer of ownership or control. Such request shall provide complete information on the proposed transaction, including details on the legal, financial, technical, and other qualifications of the transferee, and any other information as determined necessary by the Franchise Officer.
(F) For the purposes of determining whether it shall consent to a transfer of ownership or control, the City or its agents may inquire into all qualifications of the prospective transferee and such other matters as the City may deem necessary to determine whether the transfer of ownership or control is in the public interest and should be approved, denied, or conditioned. The franchisee and any prospective transferee shall assist the City in any such inquiry, and if they fail to do so, the request for transfer of ownership or control may be denied.
(G) Any transfer of ownership or control without the City Council's prior approval shall be ineffective, and shall be grounds for revocation of the franchise, at the City Council's sole discretion, and to any other remedies available under the agreement or applicable law.
(H) A franchisee shall be fully liable under its franchise agreement for any transfer of ownership or control that is in violation of the terms of its franchise agreement or of this Chapter and caused in whole or in part by any other entity or entities, including but not limited to any parent or affiliated entities, as if such transfer of ownership or control had been caused by the franchisee itself.
(I) The City Council, in its sole discretion, may approve or deny a transfer of ownership or control of a franchise. As part of its determination the City Council may approve a transfer subject to such conditions as the City Council may deem necessary. In addition, the following conditions to any approval of transfer of ownership or control of a franchise shall apply:
(1) The City reserves the right to review, among other things, the purchase price of any transfer of ownership or control of a franchise or ambulance service operation, and to take any necessary steps, including denial of the transfer of ownership or control, to ensure that any negotiated sale value which the City deems unreasonable will not adversely affect rates charged by the ambulance service franchisee; and
(2) Any mortgage, pledge or lease shall be subject and subordinate to the rights of the City under the franchise agreement, this Chapter, and other applicable law.
(J) No application for a transfer of ownership or control shall be approved unless the transferee agrees in writing that it will abide by and accept all terms of the franchise agreement, any other agreements between the City and franchisee, and this Chapter, and that it will assume the obligations, liabilities, and responsibility for all acts and omissions, known and unknown, of the previous franchisee under its franchise agreement, other agreements between the City and franchisee and this Chapter for all purposes, including any extension of the franchise, unless the City Council, in its sole discretion, expressly waives this requirement in whole or in part.
(K) A rebuttable presumption that a transfer of control has occurred shall arise upon the acquisition or accumulation of five percent or more of the ownership of an entity by any person or group of persons acting in concert, none of whom already own or control fifty percent or more of such right or control, singularly or collectively.
(L) A franchisee is responsible for ensuring that the intent of this Chapter regarding transfers is carried out. If for any reason an event occurs that would require the City's approval of a transfer pursuant to this Chapter, whether or not such event is directly or indirectly within the franchisee's control, such event shall constitute a transfer for purposes of this Chapter and any applicable law.
(Ord. No. 6901, § 18, 5-7-25; Ord. No. 6762, § 9, 12-16-20; Ord. 5260 § 29, 2000)
Source: City of Las Vegas, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BUTALIRE_CH6.08AM_ARTIAMSE_6.08.280TROWCOFetched: 10/28/2026