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West Haven moves forward with stricter peddling, soliciting rules; public hearing set
Summary
Council’s legislative committee advanced a proposal to replace the city’s registration requirement with a licensing system that includes background checks, ID badges, limits on hours and solicitors, and higher fines; a public hearing was scheduled for May 12.
West Haven’s legislative committee voted to send a proposed ordinance tightening peddling and door‑to‑door solicitation rules to a public hearing on May 12.
The proposal would replace the current registration regime with a licensing process that the city says will require background checks, fingerprinting, passport‑style photos and police‑issued ID badges. It would limit door‑to‑door solicitations to five licensed solicitors per company at a time, restrict solicitation at any property to once per six months, and require solicitors to stop at dusk. Violations would carry a larger penalty—up to $250—compared with the current $25 fine cited in committee discussion.
Captain Joseph Romano of the West Haven Police Department told the committee that the city has seen a recent uptick in complaints about solicitors and that the updated rules would help officers hold companies accountable. “ID badges with the individual's pictures will be issued from the police department and must be worn while soliciting in the city,” Romano said, adding that the department will initially oversee permit processing and later transfer records to the records division.
Attorney Paul Dorsey, who introduced the policy discussion to the committee, described the changes as intended to protect residents while allowing legitimate businesses to operate. Dorsey and Romano said the ordinance includes exemptions for political activity and wholesalers soliciting retail shops, and that nonprofits and religious organizations would be able to seek exemptions from fees while still registering and receiving ID badges.
Committee members asked how the city would notify solicitors and residents about the new requirements; Romano said packets and social‑media notices will be used and that the police department has been informing companies that the policy is changing. Council members also sought clarity about enforcement: officers can revoke permits for repeat violations, and continued solicitation after revocation could be enforced as trespassing.
Councilman Christopher Vargo moved to set a public hearing for May 12 at 6:50 p.m.; the committee approved the hearing date. Committee discussion included requests that the police and legal staff prepare materials addressing how the ordinance will be implemented (application flow, timing, and fees) before the public hearing.
The proposal will return to the full council after the hearing; council members indicated they want additional written guidance on exemptions for nonprofits, religious groups, and common community uses (for example, Girl Scout cookie sales and school fundraisers) before final passage.
