(a) License or Registration Required. No peddler or solicitor shall peddle or solicit within the City, unless he or she is the holder of a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter.
(b) Application; Fee; License; Registration.
(1) Any person seeking a license in conformity with this chapter shall obtain an application for the same from the Chief of Police and shall submit the completed application, along with the appropriate fee, to such office, on a form supplied by the Chief, which shall contain the following information:
A. Full name of applicant;
B. Date of birth of the applicant;
C. Local address, if any;
D. Permanent home address;
E. A physical description of the applicant, setting forth age, height, weight, color of hair and eyes and sex;
F. Social Security number;
G. A description of the nature of the business and the goods, wares, merchandise, property and/or services to be sold;
H. Telephone number of the applicant;
I. Name and address of organization the peddler or solicitor represents;
J. Whether the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime, and if so, where and the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty imposed therefor, if any;
K. Such other information as the Chief may require in order to protect the public health, safety and/or general welfare.
(2) All license applications shall be referred to the Chief who shall, within five days after receipt of the completed application, issue a license unless he or she finds that:
A. The applicant has provided false, misleading or deceptive information in his or her application; and/or
B. The applicant or any solicitor or peddler named on the license application has been convicted of a felony violation or misdemeanor violation involving weapons, theft, moral turpitude or violence within the past five years.
All licenses issued under this chapter shall be valid for not more than 180 days. A separate license shall be required for each individual solicitor or peddler even though there may be a single employer.
(3) Each applicant shall pay a nonrefundable license application fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00), which fee shall be paid at the time the application is submitted.
(4) Once issued, a license may be used only in conformity with the laws of the City and the State of Ohio; may not be assigned or transferred; must be carried by the licensee at all times; and may be revoked or suspended by the Chief of Police for any of the following causes:
A. The licensee or person preparing the application on behalf of the licensee provided false, misleading or deceptive information in the license application.
B. The licensee is convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving fraud or moral turpitude.
C. The licensee violates any provision of this chapter or peddles or solicits in any unlawful manner.
D. Upon written complaint being filed with the Police Department, that the licensee has made himself obnoxious to the public by use of indecent, profane, or insulting language or has made or perpetrated any misstatement, deception, or fraud in connection with any solicitation or sale, and if said complaint is found to be true, the license of such solicitor shall be revoked.
(c) Individuals or corporations soliciting or peddling on behalf of an educational, religious, civic or charitable organizations and minors soliciting or peddling on behalf of youth organizations, such as the Scouts of America or the 4H Club, are not required to apply for a license.
(d) Restrictions; Hours; Conduct. Every person to whom a license to peddle or solicit is issued and every canvasser shall be governed by the following rules and regulations:
(1) No person subject to the provision of this chapter shall peddle, solicit or canvass except between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
(2) No peddler, solicitor or canvasser shall enter or attempt to enter a residence, house or apartment or other dwelling in the City without an express invitation from an adult occupant of the residence, house, apartment or other dwelling.
(3) No peddler or solicitor shall engage in any peddling or solicitation other than that specified in the license application.
(4) No peddler, solicitor or canvasser shall by any device make unlawful noises, nor shall any peddler, solicitor or canvasser remain at the residence, house, apartment, or other dwelling in the City without the consent of any adult occupant of the residence, house, apartment or other dwelling in the City.
(e) Resident Prohibition by Notice. Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, no peddler, solicitor or canvasser, while peddling, soliciting or canvassing, shall call upon, knock at the door or ring the door bell of any residence, house, apartment or other dwelling in the City upon which there is posted at the entrance a notice which reads "No Soliciting," or "No Trespassing" or words of similar import, which clearly prohibits peddlers, solicitors and/or canvassers on the premises, unless such peddler, solicitor or canvasser has previously been invited upon the premises by the owner, lessee or an adult occupant thereof.
(f) The City will make available placards or stickers that state either "No Trespassing" or "No Soliciting" to residents and make them available at the Police Department.
(Ord. 9420-2007. Passed 10-16-07; Ord. 11016-2018. Passed 3-6-18.)