Door-to-Door Solicitation Requires a Permit

Did you know the Greenville Municipal Code Chapter 101 requires transient merchants to have a license to solicit sales within the Town of Greenville.  Furthermore, no person shall solicit contributions or request anything of value for a purported charitable organization except as set forth in the Municipal Code.  For more details, you can view the chapter via the following link:  https://www.ecode360.com/32333228

Any person desiring to solicit sales or solicit contributions shall apply to the Town Clerk and complete an application/license form provided by the Town Clerk. The form shall include information pertaining to:

1. The name, address, and identity of the person(s) who will be soliciting;
2. The name, address and identity of the person or organization on whose behalf such solicitations will be made;
3. The nature of things intended to be sold or the purpose of the contributions solicited;
4. The identification and registration of any vehicles to be used; and
5. The length of time of the solicitation.

If a license is granted, the licensee is further regulated to the following rules and conditions:

• No person shall solicit sales or solicit contributions between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
• No person shall misrepresent the purpose of the solicitation, the principal employer or organization on whose behalf the solicitations are made or the disposition of the proceeds of any sale or contribution.
• No transient merchant soliciting sales shall enter upon any premises for the purpose of soliciting sales on any residential property posted with an appropriate sign in a conspicuous place stating "No Peddlers" or "No Soliciting" or words to that effect.
• No transient merchant shall falsely or fraudulently misrepresent the quantity, character or quality of any article offered for sale; offer for sale any unwholesome or tainted food; misrepresent the purpose of his or her principal or employer; the source of supply; or the disposition of the profits of his or her sales. 

If a door-to-door solicitor arrives at your door, they should:

1. After initial greeting, shall disclose his or her name, the name of the business or organization he or she is affiliated with and the identity of the goods and services offered.
2. Any person soliciting sales or soliciting contributions who takes an order for later delivery or accepts or receives payment or deposit of money in advance of delivery shall provide the buyer with a written statement containing the terms of the agreement, the amount paid in advance, the person's name, address and telephone number and the delivery or performance date. 

Any person who fails to obtain a permit as required by this chapter prior to soliciting sales or contributions, or otherwise violates any provision contained herein, shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $50 nor more than $500, together with costs of prosecution, including reasonable attorneys' fees. Each day that such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.

If anyone is soliciting in your neighborhood without a proper permit or is violating the requirements of Town Code, please contact the Town Clerk's office at (920) 757-5151 or contact the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department non-emergency number at (920) 832-5000 to notify the Greenville Deputy.