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Council tightens commercial door-to-door solicitation rules, adds background checks and permit verification
Summary
The council adopted an update to Post Falls’ door-to-door solicitation ordinance narrowing it to commercial solicitation, requiring background checks and permitting denial for serious convictions or active warrants; council asked staff to require an in-person ID check before a permit becomes valid.
The Post Falls City Council adopted an updated ordinance on May 19 that narrows regulation to commercial door-to-door solicitation, establishes background-check and disqualification criteria, and preserves First Amendment exemptions for political, religious and youth/nonprofit activity.
City Attorney Field Harrington and Lieutenant Frank Bound of the police department presented the proposal and the policy rationale. Lt. Bound said the department currently has limited ability to deny permits: under the existing code an applicant who disclosed convictions would generally still receive a permit. The proposed ordinance would allow denial for applicants with certain serious convictions at any time, specified felony convictions within the past 10 years, specified misdemeanors within five years, active felony or violent-misdemeanor warrants, or omission of disqualifying items on the application. Permit-holders would be required to carry the permit and present it on request; commercial solicitation would be restricted to between 9 a.m. and sunset and must honor no-soliciting signs.
Councilmembers discussed procedural safeguards. Several supported an in-person verification step before a permit is activated (staff will require applicants to come to the police department to validate ID and pick up a physical permit), citing enforcement and public-safety benefits. The ordinance excludes political and religious canvassing and non-commercial youth fundraising to avoid First Amendment conflicts. The council approved the ordinance and asked staff to implement an in-person ID-check policy before final issuance.
