Taft Municipal Code Ch. 9 Door-to-Door Solicitation

It is unlawful for any person to engage in door-to-door commercial solicitation at or upon any private property within the city. This prohibition shall not apply to activities specifically exempted by section 4-9-2.

For purposes of this chapter, “door-to-door solicitation” means traveling by foot, vehicle, or any other means from door to door, house to house, or street to street:

(A) Carrying, conveying, or transporting food, goods, wares, merchandise, or other personal property of any nature whatsoever, offering or exposing the same for sale, or making sales and delivering articles to purchasers, excepting authorized vendors as defined in Chapter 22 of Title IV; or

(B) Taking or attempting to take subscriptions, contracts of sale, or orders for the sale of foods, goods, wares, merchandise, or other personal property of any nature whatsoever for future delivery, or for services to be furnished or performed in the future, whether or not such person has, carries, or exposes for sale a sample of the subject of such sale, or whether or not he collects advance payments on such sales. (Ord. 854-25, 10-21-2025)

The provisions of section 4-9-1 shall not apply to any of the following:

(A) Merchandise and food vendors may be allowed on public sidewalks under the provisions of Title IV, Chapter 22 Sidewalk Vending;

(B) Persons delivering or soliciting subscriptions for a newspaper of general circulation;

(C) Groups that operate under a nonprofit exemption;

(D) Persons engaging in political or religious free speech activities;

(E) Delivery of goods that have been ordered or delivery of goods that are a part of an established fixed route. (Ord. 854-25, 10-21-2025)

(A) Penalties. Any violation of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with title I, including chapters 1 and 2, of this code.

(B) Public nuisance. Any violation of this chapter shall constitute a public nuisance subject to all enforcement, including abatement procedures authorized to the city by this code and all other applicable laws.

(C) Enforcement. The city is authorized to take such actions as may be required for enforcement of this chapter. The city may enforce any violation of this chapter by any and all means available by law, including, but not limited to, civil enforcement through such means as a restraining order and nuisance abatement action for relief such as preliminary or permanent injunction, criminal enforcement, and administrative enforcement. These remedies are intended to be cumulative and may be used in conjunction with or in lieu of each other remedy. (Ord. 854-25, 10-21-2025)