Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 5.08 Soliciting

Unless it is apparent from the context that another meaning is intended, the following words, when used herein, shall have the meaning ascribed to them by this section:

Person means an individual, group, firm, copartnership, corporation, company, association, church, religious sect, religious denomination, society, organization or league;

Private property means a privately owned building, either a residence or commercial enterprise;

Solicit or solicitation means to request, directly or indirectly, money, property, including discarded household furnishings, newspapers, magazines, castoff materials, or financial assistance of any kind, including donations or pledges of donations, or to sell, to offer for sale or to exhibit anything or object whatever to raise money, including any article, tag, service, emblem, publication, ticket, advertisement or subscription; or to secure or attempt to secure money or donations or other property by promoting any bazaar, sale, dance, card party, supper or entertainment, whether any of such acts occur on the streets, in any office or public building, by house-to-house canvass or in any public or private place by personal solicitation.

(Ord. 6898 § 1, 2006; Prior code § 21.65)

A. No person shall engage in solicitation activity upon any private property after having been asked to leave such property by the owner or occupant of the property.

B. Unless invited by the legal occupants or owners of the private property, it shall be unlawful for any such person to engage in solicitation upon the private premises or residence or business located thereon if such premises or residence is posted with notice prohibiting solicitation, prominently displayed upon which is printed:

"SOLICITING AT THIS LOCATION IS A VIOLATION OF LAW"

For purposes of the preceding sentence, a private property, either residence or business, shall be deemed to be posted prohibiting solicitation if there is exhibited, on or near the main entrance to the property or on the main door to any structure located thereon, a sign conspicuously posted, which bears the above wording or similar wording restricting or prohibiting solicitation on the premises.

(Ord. 7757, § 76, 2026; Ord. 6898 § 1, 2006; Prior code § 21.66)

A. No person who engages in solicitation shall use a plan, scheme or ruse or make any statement which indicates or implies that the purpose of the solicitation is other than to obtain orders or to make sales of goods or services.

B. No person who engages in solicitation shall misrepresent the right of a buyer to rescind or cancel a sale under the provisions of applicable law.

C. No person who engages in solicitation shall solicit by shouting or by using any sound device in connection with soliciting, including bells or amplifying system.

D. No person who engages in solicitation shall step onto or over the threshold of a doorway of a residence unless invited to do so by the occupant or place hands, legs or any portion of the solicitor's body in the doorway so that it reasonably appears that the door may not be closed, unless allowed to do so by the occupant.

E. It shall be unlawful to make false statements or misrepresentations about the purpose of the solicitation.

(Ord. 6898 § 1, 2006; Prior code § 21.67)

No person shall engage in any form of door to door solicitation before 8:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. Further, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in solicitation at any time of day if such time of day is clearly posted on the "no soliciting" sign posted pursuant to the sections of this Code.

(Ord. 7463 § 1, 2019; Ord. 7341 § 4, 2016; Ord. 7229 § 7, 2013; Ord. 6898 § 1, 2006; Prior code § 2.68)

A. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the chapter, it is unlawful for any person to solicit or sell or offer for sale, by taking orders, subscriptions, direct sales or any other method, any merchandise or printed matter within any building owned by the City or the Pedestrian Mall. Nothing in this section shall prohibit solicitation or direct sales by any person permitted to engage in such activities pursuant to a lease or rental agreement or a permit issued by the City.

B. The Pedestrian Mall is defined as:

Main Street between the southerly line of Sixth Street and the northerly line of Tenth Street but excluding from the mall the intersections of Main Street with Mission Inn Avenue (formerly known as Seventh Street), University Avenue (formerly known as Eighth Street) and excluding from the mall Ninth Street. This area will be commonly known as part of "Main Street Riverside."

(Ord. 7356 § 1, 2016; Ord. 6898 § 1, 2006; Prior code § 21.69)

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as to replace or eliminate any of the provisions or requirements of this title requiring business licenses.

(Ord. 7757, § 77, 2026; Ord. 6898 § 1, 2006; Prior code § 21.70)