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Title 4 — BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS

Chapter 4.32 — SOLICITING INFORMATION FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES

Palo Alto Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-29 · Palo Alto

4.32.010 Definitions.

(a) For the purpose of this chapter, unless it is plainly evident from the context that a different meaning is intended, certain terms used in this chapter are defined as follows:

(1) "Interviewee" means a person from whom information is requested by a solicitor as defined in this chapter.

(2) "Soliciting" means requesting information on the background, occupation, economic status, social status, religious status, political status, attitudes, viewpoints, occupants of a residence, telephone number, address, furnishings, or the like of another person for the purpose of compiling such information as raw data or refined data into a document, record, book, or directory to be sold, or to be used wholly or in part for a commercial purpose.

(3) "Solicitor" means the person soliciting as defined in this chapter.

(Ord. 2752 § 1 (part), 1973)

4.32.020 Reserved.

(Repealed by Ord. 5610 § 5 (part), 2024)

4.32.030 Reserved.

(Repealed by Ord. 5610 § 5 (part), 2024)

4.32.040 Reserved.

(Repealed by Ord. 5610 § 5 (part), 2024)

4.32.050 Reserved.

(Repealed by Ord. 5610 § 5 (part), 2024)

4.32.060 Reserved.

(Repealed by Ord. 5610 § 5 (part), 2024)

4.32.070 Reserved.

(Repealed by Ord. 5610 § 5 (part), 2024)

4.32.080 Reserved.

(Repealed by Ord. 5610 § 5 (part), 2024)

4.32.090 Reserved.

(Repealed by Ord. 5610 § 5 (part), 2024)

4.32.100 Restrictions on methods of solicitation.

(a) It shall be unlawful for a solicitor to do any of the following:

(1) Falsely represent, directly or by implication, that the information is being solicited on behalf of a governmental organization;

(2) Threaten, directly or by implication, that the information requested will be solicited from sources other than the interviewee if the interviewee does not provide the information;

(3) Without the express prior permission of an occupant, solicit at any residence address or apartment complex where there is posted a sign stating: "No solicitors or peddlers."

(Ord. 2752 § 1 (part), 1973)

4.32.110 Hours of solicitation.

No person shall solicit information from six p.m. to nine a.m.; provided, however, a solicitor may call upon the occupant of a residence during such hours when he has received express prior permission from such occupant to do so.

(Ord. 3755 § 1, 1987: Ord. 2752 § 1 (part), 1973)

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▸Contents — Palo Alto Municipal Code
Palo Alto Municipal Code
  1. Article VIII — A. Board of Education
  2. Title 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  3. Title 2 — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
  4. ▸Title 4 — BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
    Overview
    1. 4.04 General Provisions
    2. 4.10 Licenses Obtained by Application to Chief of Police
    3. 4.12 Sidewalk Vendors
    4. 4.18 License Obtained by Application to Poundmaster
    5. 4.30 Soliciting Funds
    6. 4.32 Soliciting Information for Commercial Purposes
    7. 4.34 Closing Out Sales
    8. 4.38 Reserved
    9. 4.39 Private Intrusion and Fire Alarms
    10. 4.42 Taxicabs and Other For-Hire Vehicles
    11. 4.46 Reserved
    12. 4.48 Reserved
    13. 4.51 Bingo Games
    14. 4.52 Billiard Rooms, Cardrooms and Bowling Alleys
    15. 4.54 Massage Establishments
    16. 4.55 Adult Entertainment Establishments
    17. 4.56 Hot Tub/Sauna Establishments
    18. 4.57 Firearms Dealers
    19. 4.58 Narcotics Paraphernalia Sale and Display
    20. 4.59 Pet Shops
    21. 4.60 Business Registration Program
    22. 4.62 Citywide Minimum Wage
    23. 4.64 Permits for Retailers of Tobacco Products
    24. Chapter 4.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
    25. Chapter 4.10 — SOLICITORS, PEDDLERS, PAWNBROKERS, SECONDHAND
    26. Chapter 4.12 — SIDEWALK VENDORS
    27. Chapter 4.18 — LICENSE OBTAINED BY APPLICATION TO POUNDMASTER
    28. Chapter 4.30 — SOLICITING FUNDS
    29. Chapter 4.32 — SOLICITING INFORMATION FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
    30. Chapter 4.34 — CLOSING OUT SALES
    31. Chapter 4.38 — RESERVED
    32. Chapter 4.39 — PRIVATE INTRUSION AND FIRE ALARMS
    33. Chapter 4.42 — TAXICABS AND OTHER FOR-HIRE VEHICLES
    34. Chapter 4.46 — RESERVED
    35. Chapter 4.48 — RESERVED
    36. Chapter 4.51 — BINGO GAMES
    37. Chapter 4.52 — BILLIARD ROOMS, CARDROOMS AND BOWLING ALLEYS
    38. Chapter 4.54 — MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
    39. Chapter 4.55 — ADULT ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENTS
    40. Chapter 4.56 — HOT TUB/SAUNA ESTABLISHMENTS
    41. Chapter 4.57 — FIREARMS DEALERS
    42. Chapter 4.58 — NARCOTICS PARAPHERNALIA SALE AND DISPLAY
    43. Chapter 4.59 — PET SHOPS
    44. Chapter 4.64 — PERMITS FOR RETAILERS OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS
  5. Title 5 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
  6. Title 6 — ANIMALS
  7. Title 8 — TREES AND VEGETATION
  8. Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY
  9. Title 10 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
  10. Title 11 — ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
  11. Title 12 — PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
  12. Title 13 — IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE
  13. Title 15 — FIRE PREVENTION
  14. Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
  15. Title 17 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE
  16. Title 18 — ZONING
  17. Title 19 — MASTER PLAN
  18. Article 7 — AUTHORITY FOR AND SCOPE OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLANS.
  19. Article 8 — PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLAN.
  20. Chapter 19.06 — SPECIFIC PLANS
  21. Chapter 19.10 — COORDINATED AREA PLANS
  22. Title 20 — PRECISE PLANS
  23. Title 21 — SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND
  24. Title 22 — PARKS

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