Fort Worth's Soliciting & Door-to-Door: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles soliciting & door-to-door a little differently. In Fort Worth, Texas, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

No-Knock Registry

Fort Worth bars door-to-door vendors from any residence or business posting a 'No Soliciting' or 'No Trespassing' sign, or from returning after a verbal no. Solicitation is also barred before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. (8 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time) under City Code § 20-145, unless the occupant asked for the visit.

Key details: Solicitation hours: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (8 p.m. DST). No Soliciting sign: Bars all door-to-door solicitation. Verbal refusal: Vendor may not return. Applies to: Registered door-to-door vendors only. Max fine: Up to $500 per offense (§ 1-6).

Soliciting a posted or opted-out address, or knocking outside the 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (8 p.m. DST) window, violates this article; because Division 1 sets no specific penalty, the citywide default in § 1-6 governs, up to a $500 fine per offense, with no culpable mental state required and each day of continued violation charged separately.

Solicitor Permits

Fort Worth requires every door-to-door vendor, anyone going house to house selling goods or services, to register with the city and carry a registration certificate before knocking on a single door. Registration is free, but vendors must disclose their vehicle, ID and what they're selling under City Code § 20-143 and § 20-144.

Key details: Registration fee: None; certificate is free. Must carry certificate: While actively vending. Governing sections: City Code §§ 20-141 to 20-145. Vehicle info required: Make, model, year, plate. Max fine for violation: Up to $500 (§ 1-6).

No specific penalty is written into Division 1, so the citywide default in § 1-6 applies: vending without a valid registration certificate, or misrepresenting registration information, is punishable by a fine of up to $500, with no culpable mental state required, and each day of continued unregistered vending is a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Fort Worth'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 Worth is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Fort Worth 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.