Door-to-Door Solicitation

To report a violation of the ordinance, please contact the Police Services Non-Emergency number at (970) 221-6540.

Effective May 27, 2011, City Council passed Ordinance 060,2011, which established a permit system regulating residential door-to door solicitation. The City's goal in regulating door-to-door solicitation is to help protect the safety and privacy of residents in their dwellings.

Revisions to the ordinance were passed by Council on January 15, 2013 effective January 25, 2013.

• Authorized the Financial Officer to suspend a badge and/or permit.
• Required those that supervise solicitors to complete a criminal background check.
• Incorporated more clearly defined due process requirements.
• Limited the requisite criminal background check to the ten (10) years immediately preceding the permit application.
• Eliminated the requirement of a sales tax deposit.
• Added a provision requiring a fifty (50) dollar deposit for a badge, to be refunded at the expiration of the term of the badge or upon revocation or voluntary relinquishment.
• Added a provision to allow residents of a multi-family dwelling unit, such as an apartment, to post a sign prohibiting solicitation at or near the entrance to their individual dwelling. A multi-family dwelling unit may not post a sign for all of the residents.

Fort Collins Municipal Code - Article IV Division 1 - Door-to Door Solicitation (PDF)

Key provisions of the law

• Companies doing door-to-door soliciting must apply for and receive a permit from the City before they can conduct door-to-door sales within the city.
• Individual solicitors will be required to complete a criminal history check.
• Permitted solicitors must wear a photo ID badge.
• The hours of solicitation are limited to between 9 a.m. and sunset.
• All door-to-door solicitation, whether commercial or non-commercial, is prohibited by a "No Trespassing" or "No Solicitation" sign posted at a residence.
• Commercial solicitation can be prohibited at a residence by joining the City's "No Solicitation" list
• Non-commercial solicitations are not regulated. By law, non-commercial solicitations include such things as religious and political contacts, fundraisers for schools and other tax-exempt organizations, and the sale of newspaper and magazine subscriptions.

Residents have several options for dealing with solicitors at their door

• Post a "No Trespassing" or "No Solicitation" sign which prohibits all door-to-door solicitation whether commercial or non-commercial.
• Complete the online no solicitation list form which bans all commercial solicitation, but non-commercial is still allowed.
• No action - all commercial and non-commercial solicitation is allowed.

Commercial Solicitor Requirements

Solicitors will be required to obtain a commercial soliciting permit:

• City issued permit
• City issued photo ID badge for each solicitor
• List of all solicitors for their company
• City sales tax license
• Prohibited from contacting anyone on the City's maintained No Solicitation List
• Prohibited from soliciting at any residence with a "No Trespassing" or "No Solicitation" sign posted.

Non-Commercial Solicitor

Non-commercial solicitors are allowed to go door-to-door if a residence does not have a "No Trespassing" or "No Solicitation" sign posted. This includes religious, political, non- profit, public entities such as schools and government, newspapers and magazine subscriptions.