‘No peddlers list’ Ok’d by Norris Norrispeddler ordinance
Norris residents will soon be able to ban door-to-door salespeople from coming on their property by adding their addresses to a “no-solicitors list,” the City Council has decided.
The council on Monday gave final approval to an updated peddlers’ ordinance that will, among other things, allow residents to add their addresses to the no-solicitors list, which will be presented to anyone seeking a city permit for door-to-door sales in the city.
After a public hearing on the issue, the council approved the revised peddlers’ ordinance on second and final reading. It was passed unanimously on first reading during the council’s Dec. 9 meeting.
The revised ordinance goes into effect in 30 days, but setting up the no-peddlers list could be delayed into March, city officials said.
This idea, which was suggested by Assistant City Manager Bailey Whited during November’s regular council meeting, would make it illegal by trespassing for a commercial solicitor to approach the home of anyone whose address is on that list, similar to the way the federal “Do Not Call” list is supposed to work.
This issue arose primarily in response to a pest-control company’s recent door-to-door solicitations in Norris.
Mayor Chris Mitchell said there was “a bug man” making “aggressive” solicitations at residents’ homes, but that because the man’s company had obtained a city soliciting permit, his actions did not violate the existing ordinance.
In January 2024, the council approved the original peddlers/solicitors ordinance to help control door-to-door sales. That measure had already made it illegal to approach someone’s home without first being invited onto the property, although that specific provision has not been enforced, City Manager Adam Ledford said.
“Protection of people in their homes is what we’re trying to address,” Mayor Chris Mitchell said during discussion of the first peddlers’ ordinance, which passed on final reading Jan. 8, 2024.
“This is an extremely aggressive ordinance,” the mayor said at the time.
Under the current rules, even if a salesperson obtains the resident’s permission to approach the home, the person still must get a solicitor’s permit from City Hall before doing so.
Exceptions are made for nonprofit organizations, including religious activities, and political campaigns. A last-minute change to the proposed ordinance made it clear that people such as those Girl Scouts selling cookies would not be subject to the restrictions.
Here is the language in the revised ordinance:
“[Section] 9-107. No-solicitation list. (1) The city may establish a no-solicitation list allowing any owner or lawful occupant of any residence within the city to prohibit commercial solicitation at said residence by registering the address with the city. Such registration shall take effect as soon as it is noted on the city’s no-solicitation list.
“(2) If the city establishes a no-solicitation list, the city shall maintain and publish on the city’s website and have available at the office of the city administrator such no-solicitation list consisting of all addresses that have been registered thereon.
“(a) Such list shall be made available without charge to any person requesting same. No person shall be required to provide identification as a condition of obtaining a copy of such list.
“(b). The city will make the necessary arrangements to periodically update the no-solicitation list.
“(c) Each address appearing on the no-solicitation list will remain on the list until removed by the occupant.
“(3) Each permit holder shall be responsible for obtaining and reviewing a copy of the no-solicitation list immediately upon issuance of a permit under this chapter and at such intervals thereafter as may be reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of subsection (4) of this section.
“(4) As of the effective date of the registration of a residential address under subsection (3) of this section, door-to-door commercial solicitation at such address shall be prohibited until such time, if at all, that the address has been deleted from the no-solicitation list.
“(5) Neither the city nor any of its officers, employees, agents or authorized volunteers shall be liable to any person for injuries, damages or liabilities of any kind arising from or relating to any errors or omissions that may occur in compiling or maintaining the no-solicitation list.”
