Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, it shall be unlawful for any solicitor or peddler to enter any premise and knock at the door or ring the doorbell of any residence, house, apartment or other dwelling in the City that appears on the "Do Not Knock Registry" or upon which there is posted at the entrance a notice which reads "No Solicitors," a "Do Not Knock" sticker or words of similar import, which clearly prohibit peddlers or solicitors on the premises, unless such peddler or solicitor has previously been invited upon the premises by the owner, lessee or an adult occupant thereof.
While canvassers are not required to follow the restrictions contained herein, they are encouraged to obtain a copy of the "Do Not Knock" list and abide by the "Do Not Knock" restrictions herein which recognize a resident's right to prevent unwanted contact.
(a) If requested by the City, and for as long as the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council ("NOPEC") shall agree to do so, NOPEC shall establish and maintain for the City a "Do Not Knock Registry" ("Registry”) and is authorized to contact individuals on the Registry to distribute "Do Not Knock" stickers to them and to update the Registry annually at no cost to the City or the individuals.
(b) The decision of whether to place a residence, house, apartment or other dwelling on the "Do Not Knock Registry" shall be solely that of the lawful possessor and occupant thereof.
(c) Any person in lawful possession and occupancy of any residence, house, apartment or other dwelling in the City may request NOPEC to place and maintain his or her residence, house, apartment or other dwelling on the "Do Not Knock Registry” by submitting a request on form(s) supplied by the City, via city website, or by submitting a request online to www.blocktheknock.com, which shall contain the following information:
(1) The name and signature of the person completing the form(s), unless the submission is done electronically;
(2) The complete address of the residence, house, apartment or other dwelling to be placed on the Do Not Knock Registry;
(3) A valid email address of the person completing the form(s);
(4) The Date the form was completed; and
(5) A statement that "No Solicitors or Peddlers” shall call at this address or words of similar import.
(d) A residence, house, apartment or other dwelling, after being lawfully placed on the "Do Not Knock Registry” shall remain on said registry until the earliest of any of the following:
(1) The City or NOPEC receives notice of removal pursuant to subsection (e) hereof; or
(2) The City or NOPEC receives formal notice that the person who submitted the form pursuant to subsection (c) hereof is not or is no longer a lawful possessor and occupant of the premises.
(e) Any person in lawful possession and occupancy of any residence, house, apartment or other dwelling may request the City or NOPEC to remove his or her residence, house, apartment or other dwelling from the "Do Not Knock Registry" by submitting a "Notice of Removal" form(s) supplied by the Director of Public Safety, or by submitting a request online at www.blocktheknock.com which shall contain the following information:
(1) The name and signature of the person completing the form;
(2) The complete address of the residence, house, apartment or other dwelling to be removed from the registry;
(3) The date the form was completed; and
(4) A statement that the residence be removed from the "Do Not Knock Registry."
(f) A copy of the "Do Not Knock Registry" shall be made available for public inspection at all times during normal business hours at the office of the Director of Public Safety of the City and shall be given to every person who applies for a license pursuant to Section 765.04 or registers as a solicitor or peddler pursuant to that section.
(Ord. 59-18. Passed 9-17-18.)