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Dearborn council amends city code to remove permit requirement for noncommercial soliciting
Summary
The council gave final approval to an ordinance removing a prior permit-and‑ID requirement for noncommercial door‑to‑door soliciting, citing U.S. Supreme Court precedent on First Amendment protections; time‑of‑day and no‑solicit signage rules remain.
The Dearborn City Council voted unanimously on final reading March 18 to amend the city’s licenses and business regulations chapter to remove the permit and identification requirement for noncommercial soliciting, city officials said.
Council President Cerini explained that the change aligns the ordinance with U.S. Supreme Court precedent recognizing certain door‑to‑door activity as protected First Amendment speech. The amendment eliminates sections requiring a permit and a permit ID for noncommercial solicitors but preserves time‑of‑day limits and property no‑solicit signage; soliciting is still prohibited between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. and on premises displaying no‑soliciting notices. Violations remain punishable as a misdemeanor under the code.
This action was the ordinance’s second and final reading and passed on a unanimous roll call. The council attached the final vote as required by ordinance procedure.
Ending: The change removes the local permit requirement while retaining the city’s time, place and manner restrictions and the no‑solicit notice protection for property occupants.
