A. 
"Canvasser" or "solicitor"
means a person selling goods or services; or offering to sell goods or services to be delivered in the future; or obtaining information to be used by another in the sale or offer of sale of any goods or services; or requesting donations of money, goods or services, and who pursues these activities in the following manner:
1. 
Traveling from door to door, street to street, or place to place; or
2. 
Temporarily hiring, leasing, or using any structure or lot, or portion thereof.
B. 
"Principal of an organization engaged in canvassing or soliciting"
means a person organizing, supervising, or managing canvassers or solicitors.
C. 
"Charitable organization"
means an entity that solicits or collects contributions from the general public where the total contribution is used to support charitable activities.
D. 
"Nonprofit organization"
means an entity registered as a nonprofit corporation under RCW Title 24; or an entity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c) of the Federal Income Tax Code.
E. 
"Religious organization"
means an entity duly organized and operating in good faith and entitled to receive a declaration of current tax exempt status for religious purposes from the United States government, and the duly organized branches or chapters of those organizations.
(Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)
A. 
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the activities of canvassers and solicitors and to promote the dependability and accountability of the canvassers and solicitors. The investigation and licensing fees provided herein are levied to defray the costs of regulation and not to place an undue burden on interstate commerce.
B. 
It is expressly the purpose of this chapter to provide for and promote the safety and welfare of the general public and not to create or designate any particular class of persons who will or should be specially protected by its terms.
(Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)
It is unlawful and a nuisance for any person to engage in commercial or business solicitation and/or canvassing, calling at residences without the previous consent of the occupant for purposes of soliciting orders, sales, subscriptions or business commercial information without first having registered in the office of the city clerk. The applicant shall provide a written signed application stating:
A. 
The name, address, telephone number and contact person for the principal applicant;
B. 
The nature of the products or services involved, the names of the manufacturers, if any;
C. 
The proposed method of operation in the city;
D. 
A list of persons who will solicit or canvass in the city;
E. 
Any other information required by the city.
(Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)
Every peddler, solicitor, registered solicitor or transient merchant shall not conduct business within the city limits without possessing a valid copy of their solicitor/peddler certificate or be identified as associated with primary vendor, solicitor or transient merchant.
(Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)
No peddler, solicitor, registered solicitor, or transient merchant shall conduct business within the city limits of Colfax between the hours of eight p.m. and eight a.m. without a prearranged appointment. Sales to begin no sooner than twenty-four hours after issuance of permit.
(Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)
No peddler, solicitor, registered solicitor, or transient merchant shall contact any residence that is posted by signage that such contacts are not desired by the residents.
(Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)
No peddler, solicitor, registered solicitor or transient merchant shall have any exclusive right to any location in the public streets, parks or public right-of-way, nor be permitted a stationary location, nor be permitted to operate in any congested area where operation might impede or inconvenience the public. For the purpose of this section the judgment of a law enforcement officer, exercised in good faith, shall be conclusive as to whether the area is congested or the public impeded or inconvenienced.
(Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)
This chapter does not apply to:
A. 
Persons dealing only with merchants, businesses, or professional consumers.
B. 
Newspaper carriers, state-licensed insurance and real estate agents, advertising salespersons calling on commercial enterprises, or any sale under court order.
C. 
Transient merchants making sales, or taking orders for farm products produced or raised by the merchant.
D. 
Officers or members above the age of eighteen acting on behalf of nonprofit, charitable or religious, organizations and who are unpaid for their services.
E. 
Candidates for elected government positions and their campaign workers.
(Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)
Any person seen soliciting or canvassing shall be required to produce his solicitor's or canvasser's license if requested to do so by any police officer. In the absence of license, the person shall be required to provide information reasonably necessary to verify a claim of exemption from this chapter.
Any police officer shall enforce the provisions of this chapter against any person found to be violating the same, and failure to produce a license or information necessary to verify a claimed exemption shall constitute probable cause for enforcement action.
Penalty. Any person violating any provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not to exceed ninety days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day upon which such violation shall occur or upon which such violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)
Upon approval the applicant shall pay a license fee as outlined in the annual fee schedule adopted by city council.
(Ord. 15-21 § 1, 2015; Ord. 09-03 § 1 (part), 2009)