Solicitor season is upon us. Solicitors must adhere to the following guidelines and rules regulating door-to-door solicitation:
- Must cease solicitation upon owner or occupant request
- Must obey posted “No Solicitors” signs
- Must carry and display their permit while they are soliciting
- May only ring bells, knock or engage with residents for solicitation between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
If a solicitor does not display or cannot produce a permit, they may not be licensed to solicit within Deerfield and can be reported to the Deerfield Police Department by calling (847) 945-8636. Please visit the Solicitor Permit page on our website to see a list of current solicitor license holders.
To prevent solicitors at your home, prominently display a no soliciting notice on or near the main entrance by way of a sign measuring at least 3 inches by 4 inches in size. No soliciting notices should read in letters at least 1/3 inch in height “No Solicitors Invited” or comparable language. It is illegal in the Village of Deerfield to solicit at a location where proper No Soliciting signage has been posted. With or without a sign, residents should not ever be afraid to exercise boundaries with solicitors by refusing to answer their door or by politely stating ‘no thank you’ or ‘not interested’ and shutting and locking their door. Remember however, that as a homeowner or occupant you may at any time ask a solicitor to leave your property. Every resident has the right to feel secure in their home, should you feel threatened or unsafe based upon a solicitor’s behavior, contact the Police immediately at 847.945.8636.
Can the Village Ban Solicitors?
The First amendment and the U.S. Constitution protect the rights of door-to-door solicitors and preclude the ability of a community to ban or significantly limit door-to-door sales. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld free speech for commercial purposes and the Village’s ability to restrict commercial door-to-door solicitation is limited to local regulations restricting the time, place and manner of door-to-door solicitations. Homeowners and occupants, however, do have the ultimate right to determine whether solicitors shall or shall not be invited to their residences or property.