It seems even the most innocent of gestures is not safe from the red tape of local law.

In Porterville, California, a five-year-old girl who set up a lemonade stand to raise money to buy herself a new bike has been told four months later that she needed a business license to do it.

Her mother received the warning in a citation from city hall which asked her to send back $59, the local fee for applying for a new license plus a fine.

It was prompted by a complaint from a member of the public, according to officials who have since apologized.

Autumn Thomasson proudly set up the stand outside her family's home in June.

Autumn Thomasson, five, proudly sold $82 worth of lemonade and candy to buy herself a new bicycle in June. This week, her mother received a citation from city officials claiming she needed a business license and asking them to pay $25 to obtain one retroactively

She raised $82, more than she had hoped, by selling lemonade for $1 a cup, candy for $1 and snacks for 50 cents.

Afterwards, the ecstatic five-year-old then used the money to buy herself a new bicycle.

Her 22-year-old Gabby Dehaas said she and her partner wanted to teach her the value of a dollar.

But this week, Dehaas took to social media to furiously reveal she had been cited by local officials.

Their letter to her included a print-out of the Facebook page where Autumn had proudly showed off her stand and invited local friends and family to stop by.

In their citation letter to Autumn's mother Gabby, officials included the Facebook post where she had invited local people to come and buy a cup

Autumn's 22-year-old mother Gabby (right together) said she wanted to teach her the value of a dollar and the importance of hard work. They hoped to raise around $70 so that she could buy her new bicycle (left) and the little girl was ecstatic when she exceeded her goal

Autumn with her mother buying her new bicycle after raising the money in June

Autumn with her father and her new bicycle in June. She made $82 out of the lemonade stand

The 22-year-old mother took to Facebook this week to share her outrage after receiving the citation

Sharing a photograph of the letter, her incredulous mother said: 'What kind of world do we live in where kids can't do lemonade stand or any kind of stands for that matter without getting in trouble?!

City officials have since apologized to the girl's parents

'How are we expose to show our kids to work hard for what they want and to expand their ideas/entrepreneurship if they need a license for every little thing!'

Porterville officials have since revealed that they received a complaint about Autumn's stand.

The letter was sent in response to that complaint but they have since retracted their demand.

'There's no excuse why it should have been sent.

'We want our youth to be engaged and looking at business opportunities,' Porterville City Manager John Lollis told Fox News.

He reassured local people they did not need a business license or permit to set up a lemonade stand.