Shasta County Municipal Code Ch. 5.20 Solicitors

It is unlawful for any person to enter or go in or upon any private residence, dwelling house, apartment or the grounds or premises thereof within the unincorporated area of the county for the purpose of soliciting from the occupants thereof or to canvass for orders for goods, wares, merchandise or services of any character or description or for the purpose of offering to give or furnish, or giving or furnishing any goods, wares, merchandise or services to any such occupants to induce or invite such orders without having first applied for and received from the county sheriff's office a solicitor's permit.

(Prior code § 3900)

This chapter shall not apply to the following:

A. A peddler travelling from house to house selling fish, vegetables or fruits;

B. Any person soliciting or canvassing for orders for the sale or other disposition of products raised, grown, manufactured or produced in the county;

C. Soliciting or peddling which is incidental to the regular course of a business located in the county; providing, the business has been in existence continually for at least ninety days at the time of soliciting or peddling;

Any person who has been a resident of the county for a period of ninety days immediately prior to the doing of any act requiring registration by this chapter.

(Prior code § 3910)

A. Applications for permits shall be filed in writing during normal business hours at the county sheriff's office on forms provided by the county for such purpose and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. The name and address of applicant;

2. The personal description of the applicant, including his age, height, weight, color of eyes and hair;

3. The name and address of the person, firm or corporation by whom the applicant is employed and the length of service of the applicant with such employer;

4. Each place of residence and nature of each employment of the applicant during the last preceding year;

5. The nature and character of the goods, wares, merchandise or services to be offered by the applicant and the name and address of the supplier of goods, wares, merchandise or services to be offered;

6. Duration of the applicant's intended solicitation and the general area in which he intends to be during any given period of the solicitation;

7. Prior arrest records, if any.

B. No person shall supply any false information in connection with any application for a permit required by this chapter.

(Prior code §§ 3902, 3903)

Every person who applies for a solicitor's permit shall submit with his application and file with the county clerk's office a bond in the penal sum of five hundred dollars executed and made by a surety company authorized to do business in this state or by two responsible freeholders residing in the county or in lieu thereof a cash bond conditioned upon the making of final delivery of any goods or personal property, or the performance of any services to be performed in accordance with the terms of such order; or in failing thereof, that any payment advanced on such order shall be forthwith refunded and any other damages suffered shall be paid. Any person aggrieved or damaged by the action of a solicitor shall have a right of action on the bond for damages. Such bond shall remain in full force and effect and in the case of a cash deposit, such deposit shall be retained by the clerk's office for a period of ninety days from and after the expiration of such permit.

(Prior code § 3905)

The fingerprints of each applicant for a solicitor's permit shall be taken by the county sheriff's office on the standard form prescribed by the State Bureau of Identification and Investigation.

(Prior code § 3904)

The county sheriff's office shall make a reasonable investigation of the applicant for a permit to determine his moral character and the nature of the business or enterprise in which he proposes to engage, and after such reasonable investigation if the sheriff's office determines that the applicant is of good moral character and purposes to engage in a lawful and legimate enterprise, it shall issue the permit.

(Prior code § 3906)

In the event the sheriff's office refuses to issue a permit, an applicant may appeal to the county board of supervisors for a review of the matter. After a hearing thereon, the board of supervisors may grant or refuse the permit as in its judgment seems fit and proper.

(Prior code § 3907)

The applicant shall carry such permit at all times when soliciting and shall exhibit the same whenever he is required to do so by any peace officer or by any person from whom he is soliciting.

(Prior code § 3909)

In the event any person who has been granted a permit violates any county ordinance or any state or federal law applicable to his business, or in the event the holder of such permit ceases to possess the character and qualifications required for the original issuance of such permit, such permit may be revoked by order of the county sheriff's office. in the event of such revocation, the permittee may appeal to the county board of supervisors for a review of the matter. after a hearing thereon, the board of supervisors may uphold or reverse the revocation as in its judgment seems fit and proper.

(Prior code § 3908)