(a)   Solicitor, within the meaning of this article, is defined to be any person who goes from house to house, or from place to place, within the city taking orders for, or offering to take orders for goods, wares, or merchandise, or any article for immediate or future delivery, or for services to be performed immediately or in the future, or for the making, manufacturing, or repairing of any article or thing whatsoever, immediately or for future delivery.

(b)   Canvasser, within the meaning of this article, is defined to be any person who tries to persuade people to vote or support someone or something.

(c)   Peddler, within the meaning of this article, is defined to be any person who goes from place to place selling small articles.

(Ord. 2062)

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation acting as peddlers, canvassers, or solicitors within the meaning and application of this article without first securing a license to do so from the City Clerk.

The exceptions from the provisions of this article are traveling salespeople doing business as representatives of established firms and selling wholesale to established businesses within the city limits, religious tracts, and non-profit organizations doing fund-raising.

(Ord. 2013; Ord. 2062)

Permits and licenses issued under the provisions of this article may be revoked by the City Clerk for any of the following reasons:

(a)   Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement contained in the application for license.

(b)   Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement made in course of carrying on his business as a solicitor.

(c)   Any violation of this article.

(d)   Conviction of any crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

(e)   Conducting the business of soliciting, in an unlawful manner or in such a manner as to constitute a breach of the public.

(Ord. 2062)

All orders taken by a licensed solicitor shall be written duplicate, stating the terms thereof, and the amount paid in advance, and one copy shall be given to the purchaser at the time of the taking of said order.

(Ord. 2062)

It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the business of soliciting, as defined by this article, or any person pretending to be a solicitor, to ring the bell or knock at the door of any residence or dwelling bearing the sign “No Solicitors”, or solicit or pretend to solicit in any building wherein or whereon the words “No Solicitors” or words of similar import are painted or affixed so as to be exposed to public view.

(Ord. 2062)

Except when authorized in writing by the City Clerk, no peddler, solicitor, or canvasser or any other persona shall have exclusive right to any location in the public streets for the purpose of selling or soliciting sales, nor shall any person be permitted a stationary location in the public streets, nor shall any person be permitted to operate in the sidewalks and streets within the city limits of the city of any congested area where his or her operations might impede or inconvenience the public.

(Ord. 2062)

No person or entity shall sell or offer for sale any goods on or in the public streets, public or private parking lots, sidewalks, or any other location where such goods are offered for sale from trucks, other vehicles, temporary booths, or other temporary modes of display of goods for sale unless said person or entity has met the following conditions:

(a)   The person or entity has applied for and received a permit from the City Clerk.

(b)   The applicant has paid the City Clerk in advance the required licensing permit fee.

(c)   The applicant has secured and provided to the city clerk written permission to locate the proposed sales activity from the owner of the private property upon which the applicant proposes to conduct such sales activity.

(d)   If the proposed location for sales activity is on city property, including streets and parking lots, the applicant has secured from the City Clerk written permission to locate the sales activity.

(Ord. 2062)

License fees are $10.00 for a One Day Permit or $25.00 for an Annual Permit. Annual Permits shall expire on December 31 or each year, regardless of when the permit was first acquired.

(Ord. 2062)

Solicitors are required to exhibit their license at the request of any citizen. It shall be the duty of any police officer to require any person seen soliciting or canvassing, and who is not known by such officer to be duly licensed, to produce his permit and to enforce provisions of this article against any person found to be violating the same.

(Ord. 2062)

Any person convicted of a violation of this article shall be fined no less than $50.00 or no more than $500.00 for each violation. Each day in violation of this article may be considered a separate violation.

(Ord. 2062)