Soliciting & Door-to-Door in Downey, CA

If you live in Downey 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. Downey has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of soliciting & door-to-door, and some of them might surprise you.

Solicitor Permits

No peddler, solicitor, hawker or itinerant merchant may knock on a Downey door to sell goods, services or subscriptions without first getting a permit from the Chief of Police under Municipal Code Section 6500. The permit process runs through the Chapter 4 procedure: a sworn application, fingerprints, a police background check, and a right to appeal a denial to the City Council.

Key details: Permit issuer: Chief of Police. Soliciting hours: 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Mon-Sat only. Minor solicitor fee: $5/year if under 14, supervised. Revocation notice: 7 calendar days before taking effect. Appeal deadline: 7 calendar days to City Council.

The Chief of Police may revoke a solicitor's permit under Section 6408 upon finding the business endangers public welfare or safety, or that the permittee broke any City or State law; revocation takes effect seven calendar days after notice unless the permittee appeals to the City Council under Section 6404. Soliciting outside Section 6501's hours or violating Section 6504's prohibited practices is likewise grounds for revocation and prosecution under Section 1200: a misdemeanor up to $1,000 and six months in jail, or a graduated infraction fine of $100 to $500.

Compared to other cities, Downey takes a harder line on solicitor permits. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

No-Knock Registry

Downey homeowners can block door-to-door solicitors outright by posting a "No Solicitors" sign at the main entry: Municipal Code Section 6502 makes it unlawful for anyone to pursue solicitation at a house displaying that notice. Soliciting is also confined to 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, under Section 6501, on top of the Section 6500 permit every solicitor must carry.

Key details: No-knock trigger: posted 'No Solicitors' sign at main entry. Legal hours: 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday only. Adopted: Ordinance 794, adopted June 11, 1985. Must-leave duty: leave immediately once occupant asks (§ 6504). Permit tie-in: violation can revoke solicitor's § 6500 permit.

Ignoring a posted "No Solicitors" sign under Section 6502, soliciting outside the 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday-through-Saturday window under Section 6501, or refusing to leave when asked under Section 6504(i) each violate Chapter 5, Part 1. Since these are conditions of every permit, the Chief of Police can revoke the Section 6500 permit under Section 6408, effective seven days after notice unless appealed. A violation is also prosecutable under Section 1200: a misdemeanor up to $1,000 and six months in jail, or a graduated infraction of $100 to $500.

The Bottom Line

Downey'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 Downey is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Downey can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.