For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE. Anything of value offered for sale to the public by any person.
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. Any person who has or holds out as having a Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt determination by the Internal Revenue Service and operates for a charitable purpose, or a person who is or holds himself or herself out to be established for a charitable or civic purpose; or a person who employs a charitable or civic appeal as the basis of a solicitation, or employs an appeal that suggests there is a charitable or civic purpose for the appeal. CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION includes a chapter, branch, area office or similar affiliate soliciting contributions within the state for a charitable organization, which has its principal place of business outside the state.
(G.S. § 131F-2(3))
ITINERANT MERCHANTS. Any person other than a merchant with an established retail store in the town who transports an inventory of goods to a building, vacant lot or other location in a town and who, at that location, displays the goods for sale at retail.
PEDDLER. Any person who transports goods from place to place and sells or offers for sale articles of merchandise, or who, without traveling from place to place, sells or offers for sale any article of merchandise from any vehicle or device; provided, that any person who separates the acts of sale and delivery for the purpose of evading the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed a PEDDLER.
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION. Any church, ecclesiastical or denominational organization, or any established physical place for worship in this state at which nonprofit religious services and activities are regularly conducted, and any bona fide religious groups that do not maintain specific places of worship. RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION includes any separate group or corporation that forms an integral part of a religious institution that is exempt from federal income tax under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is primarily supported by funds solicited inside its own membership or congregation.
(G.S. § 131F-2(17))
SOLICITOR. Any person who travels from place to place taking or offering to take orders for the sale of articles of merchandise for future delivery or for personal services to be performed in the future, whether or not samples are displayed or money is collected in advance, and any person who uses or occupies any building or premises for the sole purpose of taking or offering to take orders for the sale of article of merchandise for future delivery or for personal services to be performed in the future, whether or not samples are displayed or money is collected in advance.
(1979 Code, § 6-1011) (Ord. 02-05, passed 5-21-2002)