Council votes to regulate door-to-door sales
Members of the Hartselle City Council voted to approve an ordinance regulating solicitation inside city limits at its regular meeting July 25.
The new ordinance will allow citizens to be placed on a no solicitation registry on the city website. The list will publicly show addresses but no names according to city attorney Larry Madison. Violators will be subject to criminal prosecution, and it is the responsibility of the solicitor to verify whether a resident is on the list prior to making contact. The ordinance goes into effect Aug. 1.
Additionally, commercial solicitors are also required to obtain a business license from city hall.
Non-commercial solicitors that include Boy or Girl Scouts, school fundraising efforts or non-profit groups must be supervised by a person older than 21 or older and are required to hold a permit in order to engage in door-to-door sales. The fee for the principal permits is $150 and $100 for agents.
Madison said residents who have joined the list or posted a sign on their property and have continued issues with solicitors are encouraged to call city hall at 256-773-2535.
