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Brewer enacts tighter rules for door‑to‑door sellers, adds ID and permit requirements
Summary
The Brewer City Council unanimously amended Chapter 20 to require city permits for transient sellers, proof of state licensure, employee identification and lists, location limits, and penalties of $100–$250 per violation; the ordinance includes procedures for suspension and revocation.
The Brewer City Council unanimously adopted an amendment to Chapter 20 of the city code on Jan. 13, 2026, tightening rules for transient sellers and door‑to‑door solicitation.
The ordinance, enacted as 2025‑C016, requires any transient seller operating in the city to obtain a city permit that covers all employees and agents and to provide proof of applicable state licensure before the City Clerk will issue a permit. Sponsor Councilor Michele LaBree Daniels said the changes respond to resident complaints that the prior ordinance was vague and lacked enforceability.
Under the new rules, each transient‑seller employee must wear and display an identification card showing a recent photograph, name, employer and state permit number; permit applicants must submit employee lists and operating dates and areas to the City Clerk and the chief of police. The amendment limits transient sales to private property and to zoning districts that permit the activity, and it requires written property‑owner permission for sales at fixed locations. Exemptions include noncommercial canvassing and certain excluded goods such as food, agricultural products, newspapers and religious literature.
Enforcement and penalties are assigned to the Brewer Police Department. The ordinance sets a civil penalty of $100 to $250 per violation, with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense, and authorizes the city to recover reasonable attorney fees in successful enforcement actions. The City Clerk or chief of police may initiate suspension or revocation proceedings for reasons including material misstatements on permit applications, repeated violations, or failure to maintain required state licensure.
Councilor Soubanh Phanthay seconded the motion to enact the amendment; the measure passed unanimously. The ordinance also prescribes notice and hearing procedures before the City Council for suspension or revocation decisions.
The amendment’s passage follows an extended review process and was presented to the Council as a way to align local rules with state statutes and strengthen resident protections.
