Montgomery's Soliciting & Door-to-Door: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles soliciting & door-to-door a little differently. In Montgomery, Alabama, 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.
Solicitor Permits
Montgomery treats door-to-door selling and soliciting as a transient business license category with a $1,000.00 annual license tax, one of the steepest license classes in the fee schedule. Every agent working under that licensed solicitor also has to register individually and pay a $12.00 fee.
Key details: Solicitor license fee: $1,000.00 per license. Agent registration fee: $12.00 per worker. Issuing office: City license and revenue division. Governing section: City Code § 16-107(a)(4)g. License category: Transient/itinerant business.
Operating as a door-to-door solicitor or peddler in Montgomery without first purchasing the $1,000.00 license, or working as an unregistered agent for a licensed solicitor without paying the $12.00 registration fee, is a business-license violation enforced by the city license and revenue division, subject to the Chapter 1 general penalty of $1.00 to $500.00 in fines, up to six months in jail or hard labor, or both, under § 1-6.
This is one of the stricter rules in Montgomery's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
No-Knock Registry
A posted 'no solicitors,' 'no soliciting,' 'no peddling' or 'no trespassers' sign at a Montgomery residence or business makes it unlawful for any canvasser, peddler or solicitor to approach at all. Even without a sign, door-to-door contact is confined to narrow evening and weekend windows that shrink in winter.
Key details: Summer hours (Apr-Oct): 4-7pm weekdays, 10-6 Sat. Winter hours (Nov-Mar): 4-5pm weekdays, 10-5 Sat. No-soliciting signs: Legally enforceable, § 20-5. Group size limit: Max 3 solicitors together. Must leave on request: Yes, § 20-6.
Approaching a posted no-soliciting residence, showing up outside the § 20-3 hour windows, sending more than three canvassers as a group under § 20-4, or refusing to leave when asked under § 20-6 is unlawful under Chapter 20, punishable through the Chapter 1 general penalty: a fine of $1.00 to $500.00, up to six months in city jail or hard labor, or both.
The Bottom Line
Montgomery'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 Montgomery is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that Montgomery 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.