Soliciting & Door-to-Door in Fort Lauderdale, FL

If you live in Fort Lauderdale 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. Fort Lauderdale 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

Fort Lauderdale lets a posted no-soliciting sign or a verbal refusal stop any door-to-door pitch cold. Peddlers holding a city permit are allowed to knock only between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. under Code Sec. 23-26. Ignoring a sign, a spoken refusal, or a request to leave is a criminal offense enforced under the Code's general penalty section.

Key details: Allowed hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Permit: Required before house-to-house solicitation. Application fee: $5.00, non-refundable. Permit review time: 10 working days. Permit term: Expires after 1 year or stated period.

Soliciting past 8:00 p.m., ignoring a posted no-soliciting sign, continuing after a verbal refusal, or refusing to leave when asked are each punished under Sec. 1-6, the Code's general penalty section, on conviction. Entering a business without invitation and refusing to leave is a separate offense under Sec. 23-27. Soliciting without the required Sec. 23-41 permit is independently unlawful and can result in permit denial or revocation for cause under Sec. 23-45.

Solicitor Permits

Fort Lauderdale requires anyone going door to door selling goods, wares, merchandise or services to hold a permit from the city's chief license inspector before making a single knock. Uninvited solicitation is limited to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the $5.00 application fee is non-refundable if the permit is denied.

Key details: Permitting authority: Chief license inspector, license division. Application fee: $5.00, non-refundable if denied. Permitted hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.. Review period: 10 working days to issue or deny. Permit term: 1 year or stated period, whichever is less.

Soliciting without the required permit, or in defiance of a posted sign, a verbal refusal, or a request to leave, is punished under the Code's general penalty section: a fine up to $500.00, up to 60 days in jail, or both (Sec. 1-6). Each continuing day of unpermitted solicitation activity is treated as a separate offense, and the city can pursue injunctive relief in addition to any fine.

This is one of the stricter rules in Fort Lauderdale's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Fort Lauderdale'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 Fort Lauderdale is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Fort Lauderdale's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.