Clinton council shifts itinerant-merchant permitting to Planning, narrows allowed zones

The Clinton City Council on Oct. 7 approved text amendments to the city code that transfer responsibility for itinerant-merchant permits from the Clinton Police Department to the city’s planning department and narrow where itinerant merchants may operate.

Planning Department staff told the council the change is largely housekeeping: the police previously managed itinerant-merchant permits but no longer conduct the background checks used to support permitting. The revised definition confines itinerant-merchant activity to nonresidential zones — office/institution, neighborhood shopping, highway commercial and industrial districts — and excludes residential zones. The council emphasized that private residential yard sales remain permitted without a commercial itinerant-merchant permit if they occur on the owner’s property fewer than four times per year.

Council members asked whether charities and fundraisers would be affected. Staff said fundraisers on private residential property continue to be allowed if they meet the same limit on frequency. The council also discussed enforcement and how the planning department will implement the new permit workflow.

The council moved and approved the amendments by voice vote; the change took effect immediately, and staff were instructed to notify affected parties.

The action aims to centralize permitting authority in planning as state rules have reduced police involvement in background checks; staff said the code update aligns local permitting with current practice and clarifies that repeated, market-style sales in residential neighborhoods will require a permit in commercial zones.