Centerton council adopts no‑soliciting ordinance, orders 10,000 door‑decals

The Centerton City Council adopted an ordinance June 10 that changes the city’s door‑to‑door solicitation rules, expanding the hours when solicitation is restricted and authorizing the city to provide “No Soliciting” decals to residents.

The council passed Ordinance 2025‑25 by roll call vote after a discussion about the hours and enforcement. Under the ordinance the restricted time window was changed from a fixed morning hour to a variable end time defined as “sunset” (as determined by National Weather Service data), with solicitation not allowed after sunset and before 9 a.m. The council also raised the annual permit fee for solicitors from $50 to $100 and added a $10 fee for each additional permit associated with the same applicant.

Mayor Bill, who presented the item, described the time change and the city’s plan to provide decals: “we change the time from 9AM to sunset,” and said the city had pricing for vinyl decals and could make them available at City Hall. Councilmembers voted to purchase 10,000 decals at an approximate cost of $2,000; the council authorized the mayor to make the purchase.

The ordinance includes a provision that a revoked solicitor permit would bar reapplication for 60 days. Council discussion referenced the balance between commercial speech and resident privacy and safety; City staff and the city attorney urged that minutes include stated reasons (public safety and resident privacy) so the record would be available if the ordinance were challenged. The police chief said there were no department statistics he could cite at the meeting showing an after‑sunset crime pattern tied to solicitors, and counsel asked that the council document safety and privacy concerns in the minutes.

Councilmembers also discussed how the decals should read and whether to include the police non‑emergency number; the council settled on language that would direct residents to report violations to the police and included a phrase indicating violators may be prosecuted. The city intends to stock decals at City Hall for free pickup and to make enforcement guidance available to residents.

Council action: Ordinance 2025‑25 was adopted and the emergency clause was approved; a separate motion authorized the mayor to purchase 10,000 vinyl “No Soliciting” decals for about $2,000. The council also adopted the ordinance’s higher permit fee and the 60‑day revocation period for revoked permits.

Why it matters: The change replaces a fixed morning hour with a sunset‑based end time, which city leaders said is intended to protect residents’ privacy after dark and to give police a clearer enforcement procedure. Residents who prefer not to be solicited will be able to pick up city‑issued decals at City Hall and will have a clear phone number to report violations.

Looking ahead: The city clerk will distribute decals and update front‑desk procedures so applicants for soliciting permits receive the new materials. City staff said they will also document complaints and incidents to build a record in case of legal challenges to the ordinance.