Whenever used in this chapter, the following words shall be as herein defined unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
(a) "Canvasser" means any person who attempts to make personal contact with a resident at his or her residence without prior specific invitation or appointment from the resident, for the primary purpose of:
(1) Seeking to obtain orders for the purchase of goods, wares, merchandise, foodstuffs or services, for either present or future delivery;
(2) Seeking to obtain subscriptions to books, magazines, periodicals, and newspapers
(3) Taking of a poll or census by any person, firm, or corporation other than a governmental body or agency thereof.
(b) "Charitable" means the purpose of an organization that has received a letter of determination approving tax exempt status under Title 26 of the United States Code Section 501(c)(3) or the purpose of a school club, recognized and affiliated with a public or private school, having a program with annual campaigns to support the public or private school club.
(c) "Commercial" means the purpose of solicitation that is not noncommercial, as defined in this Section.
(d) "Corporation" means a legal entity that has a legal personality distinct from those of its members that has filed articles of incorporation with the Ohio Secretary of State.
(e) "Noncommercial" means the purpose of canvassing or solicitation that is charitable, as defined in this Section, religious or political.
(f) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, social club, league, fraternal organization, joint stock company, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate or any other group acting as a unit. The word person shall include the definition of corporation.
(g) (1) "Solicitation" includes the act of any person, whether a resident of the City or not, traveling by foot, vehicle or any other type of conveyance who goes from house to house, business to business, from place to place or in or along any highway, street or sidewalk within the City either:
A. Requesting, either directly or indirectly, money, credit, funds, contributions, personal property or anything of value;
B. Taking or attempting to take orders for the sale of any goods, wares, merchandise or services of any kind or description for future delivery or for services to be performed in the future, either in person or by distributing flyers and leaflets; and
C. Selling and making immediate delivery of any goods, wares, merchandise or services of any kind or description, commonly referred to as "peddling".
(2) Solicitation shall not include the following so long as the person is not requesting, either directly or indirectly, money, credit, funds, contributions, personal property or anything of value:
A. A person communicating or otherwise conveying ideas, views or beliefs or otherwise disseminating oral or written information to a person willing to directly receive such information, provided that such information is of a political, religious or charitable nature;
B. A person seeking to influence the personal belief of the occupant of any residence or business in regard to any political or religious matter;
C. A person seeking to obtain, from an occupant of any residence or business, an indication of the occupant's belief in regard to any political or religious matter;
D. A person conducting a poll, survey or petition drive in regard to any political matter;
E. A person carrying, conveying, delivering or transporting dairy products, newspapers or other goods to regular customers on established routes or to the premises of any person who had previously ordered such products or goods and is entitled to receive the same.
(h) "Solicitor" means any person, whether a resident of the City or not, engaged in solicitation. (Ord. 2009-17. Passed 3-17-09.)