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Kenosha, WI Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 13.037, Trespass, Peddlers and Solicitors
Charitable/political solicitation hours
Barred 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. residential
Enforcement
Kenosha Police Department, complaint-based
General chapter penalty
Up to $200 fine plus costs (§ 13.16)
Peddler license authority
City Clerk issues licenses under § 13.03

Summary

Kenosha residents can bar door-to-door peddlers and solicitors by posting a sign at their property. City Code § 13.037 makes it unlawful to peddle or solicit on private property once posted notice prohibits it. A companion rule, § 13.025, bans charitable, religious and political door knocking in residential areas between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. without a prearranged appointment.

It shall be unlawful for any person, party, firm or corporation to peddle, within the meaning of Section 13.03 of the Code of General Ordinances, or to solicit within the meaning of Section 13.025 of the Code of General Ordinances, upon any private property which is posted with a sign, in a manner sufficient to provide notice, prohibiting either or both of said activities. ... It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to solicit or cause to be solicited contributions of money, goods or services to be utilized for a charitable, religious or political purpose in a residentially zoned area without a prearranged appointment during the hours of 8:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11 Update 1 | Zoning Ordinance: Supplement 9).

Full Breakdown

' A posted 'No Soliciting' sign at a residence or business therefore carries the force of law: once notice is displayed, entry to sell goods or seek donations becomes a chargeable ordinance violation, not just a private request to leave. The posting rule works alongside two other Chapter XIII provisions. 03 defines a 'Peddler' as anyone who, for personal profit, sells or takes orders for periodicals, goods, food, beverages, merchandise or services within the City from premises not owned, rented or leased by that person for 30 or more consecutive days, or from a vehicle; peddling is licensed through the City Clerk with limited exemptions such as wholesale sales, Wisconsin-grown agricultural products sold by the grower, minors delivering newspapers, prearranged appointments and licensed real estate or insurance business.

hour. Enforcement runs through the Kenosha Police Department on a complaint basis; a resident who has posted a compliant sign and still receives an unwanted knock can report the violation. 025 before citing them.

Violations & Fines

Violating the posted no-solicitation ban is a City of Kenosha ordinance offense charged in Municipal Court. Chapter XIII does not list a standalone forfeiture for § 13.037, so violations fall under the Chapter's general Section 13.16 fee schedule: a fine of not more than $200.00 plus costs of prosecution, with up to 30 days in the County Jail if the fine and costs go unpaid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a 'No Soliciting' sign have legal force in Kenosha?
Yes. City Code § 13.037 makes it unlawful to peddle or solicit on private property once a sign is posted 'in a manner sufficient to provide notice' prohibiting the activity. A visitor who ignores a compliant sign can be cited for trespass under this section, separate from any peddler or solicitor license violation.
Can charitable or political canvassers knock after dark in Kenosha?
Not in residential areas without an appointment. Section 13.025 bars soliciting contributions for a charitable, religious or political purpose in a residentially zoned area 'without a prearranged appointment during the hours of 8:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M.'
What counts as a 'Peddler' under Kenosha's ordinance?
Section 13.03 defines a peddler as anyone who, for personal profit, sells or takes orders for goods, food or services within the City from premises they don't own or lease for 30-plus days, or from a vehicle. Peddlers must hold a City Clerk-issued license unless an exemption applies, such as prearranged appointments or licensed real estate sales.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kenosha

All Kenosha rules

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