Soliciting & Door-to-Door in De Pere, WI: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in De Pere or are thinking about moving there, soliciting & door-to-door are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. De Pere has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of soliciting & door-to-door, and some of them might surprise you.

No-Knock Registry

De Pere bans door-to-door sellers and solicitors from calling at any dwelling between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. without an appointment, and from approaching any home displaying a "no peddlers" or "no solicitors" sign. Sec. 114-6 also forbids rear-door calls and requires leaving immediately once the occupant asks.

Key details: Calling hours: 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. barred without appointment. No-solicitation sign: "No peddlers"/"no solicitors" signs bar entry. Rear-door calls: Prohibited unless prearranged. Enforcement: Registration revocation, Sec. 114-8. Reapplication bar: 6 months after revocation.

Calling outside the 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. window without an appointment, approaching a home posted "no peddlers" or "no solicitors," or refusing to leave when asked are each a violation of Sec. 114-6. Sec. 114-8 lets the common council revoke the violator's registration after notice and a hearing, and Sec. 114-9 bars a revoked registrant from reapplying for six months.

Solicitor Permits

De Pere requires anyone doing direct sales or door-to-door solicitation to register with the city clerk before working the city's streets. Sec. 114-3 makes registering mandatory, Sec. 114-5 requires a police background check completed within ten business days, and solicitor registrations run one month while direct sellers can choose one month or a full year.

Key details: Registration required: Before any direct sales/solicitation, Sec. 114-3. Solicitor term: 1 month. Direct seller term: 1 or 12 months, registrant's choice. Background check: Completed within 10 business days. Revocation bar: 6 months before reapplying.

Soliciting or making direct sales without first registering under Sec. 114-3 is unlawful. A registration can be revoked by the common council after notice and a hearing under Sec. 114-8 for a material misstatement on the application, a fraudulent statement made while selling, any violation of the chapter, or a disqualifying conviction, and a revoked registrant cannot reapply for six months under Sec. 114-9.

The Bottom Line

De Pere's soliciting & door-to-door rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming De Pere is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on De Pere's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.