[Ord. 2016-846, 1-4-2016]
A "solicitor" is defined as a canvasser, peddler, salesman or any other person, either as principal or agent, whether a resident of the City or not, traveling from house to house, or to any other place in the City, soliciting, taking or attempting to take orders for the sale of goods, wares, merchandise or personal property of any nature whatsoever for future delivery, or for services to be furnished or performed in the future, whether or not such individual has, carries, or exposes for sale a sample of the subject of the sale, or he or she is collecting advance payments on such sales or not; provided, that such definition shall include any person, who for himself or another, hires, leases, uses or occupies any building, structure, tent, vehicle, hotel room, apartment, shop or any other place within the City for the sole purpose of exhibiting samples and taking orders for future delivery. Before engaging in such business in the City, a solicitor shall obtain a license for himself and for each of his associates or assistants, if any, so engaged. Any person meeting this definition that solicits on behalf of any civic, charitable, and/or nonprofit group shall not be defined as a solicitor nor be required to obtain a license for the same.
[Ord. 2016-846, 1-4-2016]
Applicants for a solicitor's license under this chapter must file with the City Clerk a sworn application, in duplicate, on a form to be furnished by the City Clerk, which shall include the following information:
(A) 
Full name, permanent home address, no post office box and local address of the applicant.
(B) 
Brief description of the nature of the business and the product to be sold.
(C) 
If employed, the name and address of the employer, the name and address of any local or state office or manager, together with credentials establishing exact relationship or authority.
(D) 
Length of time for which the right to do business is desired.
(E) 
The place where the product proposed to be sold, or orders taken for the sale thereof, are manufactured or produced, where such goods or products are located at the time such application is filed and the proposed method of delivery.
(F) 
Evidence that applicant has a photograph and fingerprints on file with the City police department.
(G) 
Last three cities or towns where the applicant carried on business immediately preceding the date of application, and the address, if any, from which such business was conducted in those cities or towns.
(H) 
Statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted of any crime, the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor.
The Mayor is empowered to approve such application and to grant such license upon satisfying himself of the moral fitness of the applicant to receive such license.
[Ord. 2016-846, 1-4-2016]
The license fees to be charged for licenses to solicit in the City, each payable in advance, are hereby fixed and established as follows:
$60 per week or any part thereof for one solicitor working alone. For each additional person or solicitor accompanying and working with a solicitor licensed at this rate, the sum of $45 per week or any part thereof.
$95 per month or any part thereof for one solicitor working alone. For each additional person or solicitor accompanying and working with a solicitor licensed at this rate, the sum of $45 per month or any part thereof.
$250 for six months or any part thereof for one solicitor working alone. For each additional person or solicitor accompanying and working with a solicitor licensed at this rate, the sum of $45 for six months or any part thereof.
$350 per year or any part thereof for one solicitor working alone. For each additional person or solicitor accompanying and working with a solicitor licensed at this rate, the sum of $45 per year or any part thereof.
No license shall be issued to extend beyond April 30 of the fiscal year in which the license is issued.
[Ord. 2016-846, 1-4-2016]
(A) 
Soliciting Without License: It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit the sale of goods, wares, merchandise, produce or other articles or things in the City without first having obtained a license from the City to solicit and having a license in force at the time of pursuing such business.
(B) 
Stands Prohibited: It shall be unlawful and it is hereby prohibited for any person to assume a place or to establish a temporary or fixed stand upon any of the streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks or other public places of the City to sell or for the purpose of selling therefrom any goods, wares, merchandise, produce or other article or thing.
(C) 
Entering Private Houses; Fraud: No person or solicitor shall enter any private house in the City without being admitted by some occupant thereof, nor shall be insist upon remaining on the premises or on showing his goods, wares or merchandise to any person, after being told by such person that he does not wish to see or purchase the same. No licensed solicitor shall practice fraud nor shall be misrepresent his wares or cheat or impose upon any person.
[Ord. 2016-846, 1-4-2016; amended 6-3-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-1028]
Solicitors shall only operate within the City of Lincoln between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
[Ord. 2016-846, 1-4-2016]
Any solicitor or person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be fined a minimum amount of $75 and not to exceed $750 for each offense; and each day such violation shall occur or continue shall constitute a separate offense.