INFORMATION ON DOOR-TO-DOOR SOLICITORS PRESS RELEASE
Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/26/2024 - 10/31/2024
12:00 am
Categories
CARBONDALE –
The City frequently receives inquiries regarding persons going door-to-door to solicit orders and sales. We have
highlighted some key points regarding solicitors here. For full information and guidelines visit
https://www.explorecarbondale.com/1001/Public-Notices
Solicitors within the City must apply for and be approved for a permit to solicit in Carbondale. When a
solicitor’s permit is issued, the individual has met the criminal background check criteria. A valid permit does
not mean that the City has approved of the company on whose behalf the sales are being sought.
Per the Carbondale Revised City Code, solicitors must adhere to the following guidelines and rules regulating
door-to-door solicitation:
• No Soliciting prior to 9:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday or before 12:00 noon and
after 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and national or state holidays.
• No one is allowed to solicit on any premises that posts a notice stating words of similar meaning to “NO
SOLICITORS, NO PEDDLERS, or NO TRESPASSING.” If you do not wish to have solicitors come to
your door, we suggest you put up a clearly visible sign with the language referenced here.
• Each individual solicitor must carry a valid City-issued solicitor’s permit and must display their permit
when requested by residents or City officials.
• Solicitors may not misrepresent or make false, deceptive, or misleading statements concerning the
quality, quantity, or character of any merchandise offered for sale. Complaints about door-to-door
solicitors may be filed with the City Clerk’s Office.
• Residents should be aware that the City of Carbondale, Ameren Illinois, and Homefield Energy do not
send people door-to-door to register residents for the supply of alternate energy.
• Residents should never compromise their security by providing a solicitor with utility account
information unless they intend to enroll in an alternate energy program of their own choosing. The City
recommends that residents carefully protect their account information and energy billing information
from solicitors and all other non-account holders.
Beyond the restrictions listed above, the City does not directly regulate the demeanor of individual solicitors.
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 (618) 457-3200. The City encourages residents
who have complaints about aggressive or deceptive practices of a business to file a consumer complaint with
the Illinois Attorney General’s Office at 800-243-0618 or online .
Constitutional Rights
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 door-to-door sales. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld free speech for
commercial purposes and the City’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.
You also have rights. You have a choice, do not acknowledge them or answer your door if you do not want to
engage.
“Carbondale prides itself on providing its visitors, students, businesses and residents with a unique mix of edge and ease.
It’s a cultural town, yet free of pretense, embracing the great outdoors as readily as urban sophistication. Here, we are
open to new ideas, experiences and cultures, so you are encouraged to both express yourself and be yourself, in all ways.
That’s Carbondale…All Ways Open… for family, fun, business, new ideas and a bright tomorrow.”