City of Beaufort v. Holcombe

GOOLSBY, J.:

The Municipal Court of the City of Beaufort convicted Eddie Holcombe of failing to obtain a business license in violation of section 7-1001 of the Beaufort Municipal Code. Holcombe appealed to the circuit court, which upheld the conviction. Holcombe again appeals, arguing the City’s ordinance violates the Equal Protection Clauses of our federal and state constitutions. We affirm. 1

At the time of this action, Holcombe owned a commercial building in downtown Beaufort that was divided into multiple offices. Holcombe operated his own optometry business (a professional association) in…