An Alabama teen mowing lawns to save money over the summer received her first lesson in business when officials determined she needs a $110 business license to operate in her neighborhood.

Alainna Parris told ABC 30/40 she was “just helping out and raising money for missions and trips” by cutting lawns for folks in her grandparents’ neighborhood when she was threatened by a lawn care worker for a local business.

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

“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,” Parris’ grandfather, Elton Campbell, told the news site.

“I have never heard of a child cutting grass had to have a business license,” he said.

A Gardendale business license is $110, which is about three or four mowing jobs at Parris’ current rates.

“She charges one lady $20, and another lady $30, and another girl $40 besides what we pay her,” Campbell said.

Gardendale Mayor Stan Hogeland confirmed to ABC3040 that Parris must purchase a license to legally operate in the city, and agreed the situation didn’t make sense.

“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,” he said.

Folks online were stunned.

“Ridiculous!” Charlotte Robinson posted to Facebook. “These days you can’t hardly get kids to work and when they are willing to you make them have a license to cut grass?!”

“I wonder whose brilliant idea this was! (sarcasm) Kids making spending money and staying out of trouble,” Zada Nygren wrote. “Just ridiculous… SMH!”

“Ridiculous. Don’t tell them if your teen is babysitting for some spending money,” Kem Sims posted. “What’s next? Will they need a license to do chores around the house? Smh.”

“Who the heck would even enforce this? The person paying them could just say the money is a gift and they’re cutting their grass as a favor. Do lemonade stands need a freaking business license too?” Allison Cupps questioned.

The public outrage apparently forced Hogeland to address the issue with a little more urgency, and he told ABC 33/40 in a follow up that it’s not a top priority for the city council.

“We want to find avenues for these kids to continue working and to not be punished financially by the city,” the mayor said. “They’re not doing this for a living, but we do have to navigate our system, and we do have to get something on the books that allows for this.”

The city’s next council meeting is scheduled for June 5.