§ 22-375. Door-to-door commercial solicitation prohibited.

(a)

The practice of going door-to-door to and from private residences in the city by solicitors, peddlers, hawkers, itinerant merchants or transient vendors of merchandise not having been requested or invited to do so by the owner or owners, occupant or occupants of said private residences for the purpose of soliciting is declared to be a nuisance and punishable as such nuisance as a misdemeanor.

(b)

This section applies only to solicitation for the purpose of commercial or pecuniary gain. Said section in no way prohibits, restricts, or regulates door-to-door solicitation for noncommercial purposes or for purposes that are not primarily commercial. Said section shall not be interpreted to restrict or regulate any individual's freedom of religion, speech, or assembly. Additionally, said section in no way attempts to hinder the dissemination of thoughts, ideas, or expressions in furtherance of or in accordance with any constitutionally guaranteed right.

(c)

This section shall not apply to nonprofit, religious, charitable, civic, or veteran's organizations. Additionally, any person soliciting votes for a bona fide candidate for public office shall be exempted. Said exempted groups shall be required to meet the conditions set forth in the City Code §§ 22-373, 22-401, 22-402, 22-403, 22-404, and 22-405."

(Ord. No. 00-14, § 1, 9-25-00)