Note: For license fees, see §§ 5.08.320 and 5.08.390.
It is unlawful for any solicitor or peddler or canvasser as defined in this title to engage in such business within the corporate limits of the city without first obtaining a permit in compliance with the provisions of this title.
(Prior code § 16-530; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969)
"Canvasser" or "solicitor"
means any individual, whether resident of the city or not, traveling either by foot, wagon, automobile, motor truck, or any other type of conveyance, from place to place, from house to house, or from street to street, taking or attempting to take orders for sale of goods, wares and merchandise, 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 such sale or whether he is collecting advance payments on such sales or not; provided that such definition shall include any person who, for himself, or for another person, firm, or corporation, hires, leases, uses, or occupies any building, structure, tent, railroad boxcar, boat, hotel room, lodging house, apartment, shop, or any other place within the city for the sole purpose of exhibiting samples and taking orders for future delivery. (Permit fees can be found in Section 5.08.490. Refer to Section 5.08.320 for license fee.)
"Peddler"
means and includes any person not having a fixed place of business in this city, who for himself, or as an agent or representative for or of another, goes from house to house, place to place or from street to street offering to sell tangible objects or articles, goods, wares, merchandise, or service, in person, to the individual placing order for the same, at the time such order is placed and paid for. The following are categories of peddlers. The permit fees for the following can be found in Section 5.08.490.
(1) 
"General peddler" refers to peddling or hawking any merchandise or food products, including dairy or poultry products, or other articles except candid camera snaps, jewelry, clothing, and medicine. (Refer to Section 5.08.320(1) for license fees);
(2) 
"Candid camera snaps" refers to peddling any kind of camera snapshots, or pictures, on the sidewalk. (Refer to Section 5.08.320(2) for license fees);
(3) 
"Flowers" refers to peddling flowers, ferns, plants or nursery stock. (Refer to Section 5.08.320(3) for license fee);
(4) 
"Jewelry, clothing, etc." refers to peddling the sale of jewelry, clothing and all similar goods. (For license fee refer to Section 5.08.320(4));
(5) 
"Medicine" refers to a peddler of medicines, who calls attention to his wares or advertises the same by the use of music, entertainment, speech, fancy or grotesque dress, or other device, in or upon any public street, alley, or other public place, doorway, or any room or building unenclosed or vacant lot, or parcel of land whether the actual sale of such commodities is made upon said premises or elsewhere. (Refer to Section 5.08.320(5) for license fee);
(6) 
"Medicine, other than above" refers to any peddler who peddles medicine in any manner other than that described above. (Refer to Section 5.08.320(6) for license fee);
"Peddlers or solicitors called into the city."
Any person attempting to solicit orders for or peddle any goods, wares, merchandise or services will be classified as a solicitor or peddler in the event said person is invited into the city at the request of the individual being solicited. Such person is required to apply for and obtain a permit prior to engaging in such business. Such invitation may be initiated by telephone, mail or any other such means.
(Prior code § 16-531; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969; Ord. 69-O-116 § 2, 1969; Ord. 71-O-119, 1971; Ord. 73-O-111 § 5, 1973)
Applicants for a permit under this chapter must file with the city license and tax collector a sworn application in writing on a form to be furnished by the city, which shall give the following information as well as any additional information which may be reasonably required:
(1) 
Name and description of applicant;
(2) 
Permanent home address and full local address of the applicant;
(3) 
A brief description of the nature of the business and the goods to be sold;
(4) 
If employed, the name and address of the employer, together with credentials establishing the exact relationship;
(5) 
The length of time for which the right to do business is desired;
(6) 
The place where the goods or property 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 said application is filed, and the proposed method of delivery;
(7) 
A photograph of the applicant, taken within sixty days immediately prior to the date of filing of the application, which picture shall be two inches by two inches showing the head and shoulders of the applicant in a clear and distinguishing manner;
(8) 
The fingerprints of the applicant and the names of at least two reliable property owners of the county who will certify as to the applicant's good character and business respectability, or, in lieu of the names and references, such other available evidence as to the good character and business responsibility of the applicant as will enable an investigator to properly evaluate such character and business responsibility; provided, however, that fingerprints and character references shall not be required of any applicant who can show that he possesses a valid state business or professional license which requires such fingerprinting and references;
(9) 
A statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted of any crime, misdemeanor, or violation of any municipal ordinance, the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor; and
(10) 
A statement by a reputable physician of the county dated not more than ten days prior to submission of the application, certifying the applicant to be free of contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.
At the time of filing the application, a fee of three dollars shall be paid to the license and tax collector to cover the cost of processing the application and issuance of the solicitors permit.
(Prior code § 16-532; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969; Ord. 71-O-119, 1971; amended during 7/99 supplement)
In all applications where the fingerprints of the applicant are required under Section 6.72.030(8), the following procedure is required:
(1) 
Upon receipt of such permit application, the city license and tax collector shall cause such investigation of the applicant's business and moral character as he deems necessary for the protection of the public good;
(2) 
If as a result of such investigation, the applicant's character or business responsibility is found to be unsatisfactory, the city license and tax collector shall endorse on such application his disapproval and his reasons for the same and shall notify the applicant that his application is disapproved and that no permit will be issued;
(3) 
If as a result of such investigation, the character and business responsibility of the applicant are found to be satisfactory, the city license and tax collector shall endorse on the application his approval, execute a permit addressed to the applicant for the carrying on of the business applied for, and shall notify the applicant that his application is approved;
(4) 
Applications not requiring fingerprinting under Section 6.72.030(8), shall be approved and a permit executed by the city license and tax collector;
(5) 
The permit, when issued, shall contain the signature and seal of the issuing officer and shall show the name, address and photograph of said licensee, the class of license issued and the kind of goods to be sold thereunder, the amount of fee paid, the date of issuance and the length of time the same shall be operative, as well as the permit number and other identifying description of any vehicle used in such soliciting, canvassing or peddling.
(Prior code § 16-533; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969; Ord. 71-O-119, 1971)
(a) 
Every applicant for a solicitor's license shall file with the license and tax collector a surety bond, running to the city, in the amount of one thousand dollars, or, in the case of applicants working for a common firm, said firm may file with the license and tax collector a surety bond running to the city, in the amount of two thousand dollars covering all applicants working for it; the surety bond shall be acceptable to and approved by the city attorney, conditioned that each applicant shall comply fully with the provisions of the code of the city and the statutes of the state regulating and concerning the business of solicitor and guaranteeing to any citizen of the city that all money paid as a down payment will be accounted for and applied according to the representations of the solicitor and further guaranteeing to any citizen of the city doing business with said solicitor, that the property purchased will be delivered according to the representations of said solicitor. Action on such bond may be brought in the name of the city to the use or benefit of the aggrieved person.
(b) 
No surety bond shall be required of any applicant required by the state regulations to have such a bond.
(Prior code § 16-534; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969)
The city license and tax collector shall issue to each permittee at the time of delivery of his permit an identification card which shall contain the word "Permit" in letters and figures easily discernable from a distance of ten feet. Such identification card, shall, during the time such licensee is engaged in soliciting, be worn constantly by the licensee on the front of his outer garment in such a way as to be conspicuous.
(Prior code § 16-535; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969; Ord. 71-O-119, 1971)
Solicitors, peddlers and canvassers are required to exhibit their licenses at the request of any citizen.
(Prior code § 16-536; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969)
It shall be the duty of any police officer of the city to require any person seen soliciting, canvassing or peddling, and who is not known by such officer to be duly licensed to produce his solicitor's or peddler's license and permit and to enforce the provisions of this chapter against any person found to be violating the same.
(Prior code § 16-537; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969)
The city license and tax collector shall maintain a record for each permit issued and record the reports of violations therein.
(Prior code § 16-538; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969; Ord. 71-O-119, 1971)
Permits issued under the provisions of this chapter may be revoked by the city license and tax collector after notification for any of the following causes:
(1) 
Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement contained in the application for permit;
(2) 
Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement made in the course of carrying on his business as a solicitor, canvasser or peddler;
(3) 
Any violation of this title;
(4) 
Conviction of any crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; or
(5) 
Conducting the business of soliciting, canvassing, or peddling in an unlawful manner or in such a manner as to constitute a breach of peace or to constitute a menace to the health, safety, or general welfare of the public.
(Prior code § 16-539; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969; Ord. 71-O-119, 1971)
Any person aggrieved by the action of the city license and tax collector in the denial of a permit or in revoking any permit may appeal to the city council in the manner prescribed in Section 5.08.080.
(Prior code § 16-540; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969; Ord. 71-O-119, 1971)
All annual permits issued under the provisions of this chapter shall expire on the thirtieth (30th) of June following issuance. Other than annual permits shall expire on the date specified in the permit.
(Prior code § 16-541; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969)
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this code, the following limitations shall apply to soliciting and peddling for any purpose:
(1) 
No peddler or solicitor selling or pretending to sell goods, wares or merchandise of any kind or character, or for any article, material or substance, or taking orders for, or soliciting orders for any article, material or substance, shall ring the bell, or knock on the door of any residence, dwelling, flat or apartment where a sign bearing the words, "No Peddlers" or "No Solicitors" or "No Peddlers or Solicitors" is painted or affixed or exposed to public view.
This section shall not apply to any peddler or solicitor who knocks at any door, or rings any bell at the invitation or with the consent of some member of the household at which he so applies for admission;
(2) 
No person engaged in business in the city where goods, wares or merchandise is sold or services are rendered or offered for rendition, shall use any portion of the sidewalk or street in front of such place, or adjacent thereto, for the purpose of soliciting, requesting or enticing any other person to enter said place of business to examine, purchase or bargain for any goods, wares, merchandise or services or to give any order therefor;
(3) 
No person, firm or corporation shall use or cause to be used a telephone in furtherance of any solicitation; except that a bona fide member of the organization in whose name a permit for charitable solicitations has been issued may make charitable solicitations by telephone provided that such person receives no compensation for such solicitation;
(4) 
No permit shall be issued for the peddling or renting of any type of goods, wares, merchandise or foodstuffs upon city parks, and any person guilty of peddling or renting any goods, wares, merchandise, or foodstuffs upon city parks or playgrounds, without prior approval of the city council, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Prior code § 16-542; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969; Ord. 74-O-115, 1974)
Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring any person maintaining a regular place of business within the city and who holds a valid license under Sections 6.12.535, 6.16.010 and 6.16.020, to pay an additional fee for soliciting when such solicitation is incidental to said business. Such person must apply for and receive an exempt license and permit prior to such solicitation.
(Prior code § 16-543; Ord. 69-O-101 § 1, 1969)