Payment of license fees:  In the absence of provisions to the contrary, all fees and charges for licenses or permits shall be paid in advance at the time application therefor is made to the City Clerk in the amounts prescribed by the business license fee ordinance of the City as is in effect, from time to time.  Except as otherwise provided, all license fees shall become a part of the general corporate fund to reimburse said Fund for the costs incurred in investigations and processing applications for the licenses required herein, and for the costs of regulating the subject businesses.  In no event shall any rebate or refund be made of any license fee, or part thereof, by reason of death or departure of the licensee; nor shall any rebate or refund be made by reason of non-use of the license or discontinuance of the operation or conduct of the licensed establishment, business or activity.  

    When an applicant has not engaged in the business to be licensed until after the expiration of part of the current license year, the license fee shall be pro-rated by quarters of a year and the fee paid for each quarter or fraction thereof during which the business may be conducted for that license year.