(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any solicitor to go in or upon any private residence, public property, or any business, commercial, industrial or governmental establishment in the city without having been requested or invited so to do by the owner, occupant or lessee thereof, for the purpose of engaging in the business of solicitor as defined in section 26-61, without first securing a permit from the city clerk. However, this section shall not apply to a solicitor making sales to or taking orders from the owner or lessee for goods or services used in the business.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any solicitor in the city to engage in any solicitation as defined in section 26-61 by telephone to a private residence without first securing a permit from the city clerk.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-2; 2001 Code, sec. 26-91; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06)
(a) 
Any person desiring a permit required by this division shall make written application to the city clerk, on a form to be furnished by the city clerk. The application shall show the following:
(1) 
The full name and address of the applicant, and a copy of his driver’s license or state identification, if an individual.
(2) 
The occupation in which the applicant desires to engage and for which he desires a permit.
(3) 
The description and license number of all vehicles to be used by the applicant.
(b) 
The application shall be signed by the applicant if an individual, by a partner if a partnership, by the president or vice-president if a corporation, and by an authorized officer if an association.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-5; 2001 Code, sec. 26-92; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06)
There shall be attached to each application for a solicitor’s permit the following:
(1) 
If the applicant is other than an individual, a list of all the employees who will be working as solicitors under this permit, giving their full names and copies of their driver’s licenses.
(2) 
If, while a permit is in effect, the applicant desires to hire more employees as solicitors, the applicant shall furnish to the city clerk an additional list, containing the information described in subsection (1) of this section. Such new employees may not work under this permit until they are approved by the Permit Board.
(3) 
A reference letter or report from the Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce of the county in which the applicant resides or the business is located.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-6; 2001 Code, sec. 26-93; Ordinance 121-2003, sec. 2, adopted 12/16/03; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06)
(a) 
Each applicant for a solicitor permit shall be charged a fee established by separate ordinance. If the applicant is other than an individual, the applicant will be charged an additional fee for each employee working as a solicitor under the permit. All permits shall expire 90 days after the issuance date.
(b) 
Applicant may renew a permit within 15 days of the expiration of their permit for a renewal fee as set by separate ordinance, with a maximum of three renewals per calendar year.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-9; 2001 Code, sec. 26-94; Ordinance 121-2003, sec. 1, adopted 12/16/03; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06; Ordinance 21-2016, sec. 3, adopted 7/19/16)
Upon the filing of an application for a solicitor’s permit, it shall be the duty of the city clerk to circulate the application to the other members of the Permit Board for its consideration. The members of the board may consider the application either in a meeting or individually. The board must authorize or deny the issuance of the permit within ten days from the date the city clerk received the application.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-7; 2001 Code, sec. 26-95; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06)
If, upon consideration, it shall appear to the Permit Board or a majority thereof that the statements contained in the application for a solicitor’s permit are true, that the applicant has the right, under the constitution and laws of this state and under this article, to engage in business, the Permit Board shall authorize the issuance of the permit by the city clerk.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-8; 2001 Code, sec. 26-96; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06)
Each solicitor’s permit issued shall contain the following:
(1) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(2) 
The date of issuance and date of expiration of the permit.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-10; 2001 Code, sec. 26-97; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06)
If the holder of a solicitor’s permit is an individual, it shall be unlawful for him to engage in any activity for which the permit is granted unless he carries such permit on his person while so engaged. If the permit holder is other than an individual, it shall be unlawful for any of its employees to engage in activity as a solicitor unless he carries on his person while so engaged an identification card issued by the city clerk.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-11; 2001 Code, sec. 26-98; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06)
After the solicitor’s permit has been issued, the permit may be revoked by the Permit Board if:
(1) 
The Permit Board or other city official finds that the permit was obtained by false representation in the application.
(2) 
It shall appear to the Permit Board that the holder of such permit has violated any city ordinance or any state law in connection with any soliciting by such holder or in connection with the collection or attempted collection of any account due to the permit holder or his employee or in connection with the repossession or attempted repossession of goods sold by the permit holder or any other person employed by the employer of the permit holder.
(3) 
It is determined that the permit holder is guilty of fraud, misrepresentation or false statement made in the course of carrying on his business under the permit or that his employees carry on a pattern of fraud, misrepresentation or false statement made in the course of carrying on business under the permit.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-12; 2001 Code, sec. 26-99; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06)
If the applicant for a permit required under this division or the holder of such a permit is dissatisfied with any holding or finding of the Permit Board, he shall have the right to appeal to the city council by filing a written notice of such appeal with the Permit Board within ten days from the making and filing of such decision of the Permit Board. Upon the filing of such notice of appeal, the application for the permit and all papers possessed by the permit board in connection with such application and the permit shall be delivered to the city council. Such matters as may be in controversy shall be heard by the city council at its next regular meeting after the filing of the notice of appeal. The city council shall have the same powers and authority at such hearing on such appeal as is vested in the Permit Board by this article.
(1966 Code, sec. 8-13; 2001 Code, sec. 26-100; Ordinance 94-2006, sec. 1, adopted 12/5/06)