For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(a) "Canvassing" or "soliciting", or "solicitation" includes any in-person call or contact at a residence or place of business without the invitation or previous consent of the owner(s) or occupant(s) of such premises for the purpose of any one or more of the following activities:
(1) Seeking to obtain orders for the purchase of goods, wares, merchandise, foodstuffs, other property, either tangible or intangible, or services, of any kind, character or description whatever, for either present or future delivery; or
(2) Seeking to obtain prospective customers for application or purchase of insurance of any type, kind or character, or
(3) Seeking to obtain subscriptions to books, magazines, periodicals, newspaper and every other type or kind of publication; or
(4) Seeking to obtain contributions or to sell any goods, wares, merchandise, foodstuffs, other property, either tangible or intangible, or services, of any kind, character or description whatever, for either present or future delivery; for the support or benefit of any charitable, religious or nonprofit association, organization, corporation or project; or
(5) Seeking to obtain from an occupant of any residence an indication of such occupant's belief in regard to any social, political or religious matter; or
(6) Seeking to influence the personal belief of the occupant of any residence in regard to any social, political or religious matter; or
(7) Taking a pool or census by any person, firm, or corporation other than a governmental body or agency thereof.
(b) "Canvasser or solicitor" means any individual, whether or not a resident of the Village, soliciting by traveling, either by foot, wagon, automobile, motor trucks or any other type of conveyance, from place to place, from house to house, or from state to state, who engages "canvassing," "soliciting", or "solicitation," as defined above. This definition shall include any person who, for himself or for another person, firm or corporation hires, leases, uses or occupies any building, structure, tent, hotel room, lodging house, apartment, shop or any other place within the Village for the sole purpose of exhibiting samples and taking orders for future delivery.
(c) "Canvasser for charitable or religious purposes" means any person who calls at residences or places of business without the invitation or previous consent of the owner(s) or occupant(s) of such premises for the purpose of soliciting or receiving contributions or pledges for charitable or religious purposes, or to offer or attempt to sell, or request a donation for, any advertisement, advertising space, book, card, chance, coupon, device, magazine, merchandise, ticket, token, flag, souvenir, foodstuff, services or any other article or thing Jn connection with which any appeal is made for any charitable or religious purpose, or when or where in connection with any such sale, donation or contribution, any statement is made that the whole or any part of the proceeds of any such sale will go to or be donated to any charitable or religious purpose.
(d) "Charitable" includes the words patriotic, philanthropic, social service, welfare, eleemosynary, benevolent, education, civic, fraternal, veteran's, medical and social research.
(e) "Contribution" includes the words gift, food, clothing, money, property, or donations of any kind, including those made under the guise of a loan of money or property.
(f) "Peddler" means a person who solicits by bringing goods, wares, merchandise, foodstuffs, other property, either tangible or intangible, or services, of any kind, character or description whatever, for either present or future delivery from outside the Village or State, or where the same are manufactured in the Village for sale at retail and is in this State at the time that all negotiations prior to and at the sale thereof are had, and the goods, wares, merchandise, foodstuffs, other property, either tangible or intangible, or services, of any kind, character or description whatever, for either present or future delivery are not sold in the original packages in interstate commerce, but at retail in small quantities by means of telephone solicitation or house to house, or place to place canvass. Goods, wares, or merchandise ordered or in transit, which were so ordered without reference to particular sales, shall be deemed to be in the State.
(g) "Religious" and "religion" as used herein shall not include the word charitable, but shall be given their commonly accepted definitions.
(h) "Religious organization" means any church, body of communicants or group that is not organized or operated for profit that gathers in common membership for regular worship and religious observances.
(Ord. 2006-06. Passed 6-5-06.)