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Council tightens rules for door‑to‑door vendors, adds $1,000 surety bond and shorter registration window
Summary
Council approved amendments to the itinerant‑vendor and solicitors ordinance to narrow the rules to commercial door‑to‑door activity, reduce registration from 180 to 90 days, set operating hours, require a $1,000 surety bond per solicitor, allow denial or revocation for criminal history or deceptive trade practices, and authorize fines and badges for enforcement.
City staff presented proposed amendments to Article 4 of Chapter 18 governing peddlers, solicitors and itinerant vendors. The changes focus on commercial door‑to‑door sales (excluding political canvassing and youth activities), reduce allowable hours for door‑to‑door sales, shorten the registration window from 180 to 90 days, require a $1,000 surety bond per solicitor, and introduce a nonrefundable registration fee.
Staff explained the bond is intended to protect residents who pay money to solicitors and then do not receive goods or services; a background check and identifiable badge will be issued to registered solicitors and vehicle information will be collected for enforcement. Council asked clarifying questions about whether the ordinance would affect youth sales and political canvassing; staff said those activities are exempt and that the ordinance applies strictly to commercial sales.
Council held the discussion and then voted to adopt the ordinance; the motion carried unanimously as recorded in the transcript.
