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Council to revisit blanket ban on door‑to‑door solicitation after OmniFiber legal challenge
Summary
A council member reported OmniFiber's general counsel argues the city's blanket ban on door‑to‑door solicitation may be unconstitutional; council discussed alternatives such as restricted hours, registration, ID badges, and distribution of 'no solicitation' stickers and indicated they will rework the ordinance rather than defend a full ban in court.
A council member told the Greenville City Council that OmniFiber’s general counsel has challenged the city’s blanket ban on door‑to‑door solicitation and cited Supreme Court precedent suggesting such broad prohibitions can raise First Amendment concerns.
The council discussed potential alternatives that a court has upheld in other jurisdictions, including limiting solicitation hours (for example, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), requiring vendor registration and ID badges, charging a permit fee, and allowing homeowners to post "no solicitation" signage that would make individual knockings a violation. One council member flagged concerns about visual clutter if every home posted a sticker but agreed the legal risk of a blanket ban requires revisiting the ordinance.
Council members also tied the issue to local compliance by the company, noting prior complaints and a municipal citation issued to an OmniFiber employee. Several members said it would be preferable to negotiate reasonable restrictions that protect residents while reducing legal exposure rather than defending a total prohibition in court. The council asked staff to explore options and report back.
