Lodi, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)
Key Facts
- City do-not-knock registry
- None: uses common-law sign rule
- Legal basis for sign enforcement
- Cal. Penal Code §602 (trespass)
- Sign must be
- Legibly visible from path of approach
- Religious / political canvassers
- Bound by signs (Watchtower v. Stratton)
- Trespass penalty
- Up to $1,000 + 6 months jail
- Federal Do Not Call list
- Does NOT cover door-to-door
- Report violations
- Lodi PD 209-333-6727
Summary
Lodi recognizes posted 'No Soliciting' and 'No Trespassing' signs as legal notice that withdraws the implied invitation to approach the door. Continuing to solicit at a posted residence is enforceable as trespass under California Penal Code §602: even by religious, political, or charitable canvassers otherwise exempt from the LMC Title 5 commercial-solicitor permit.
602. Except as provided in subdivisions (u), (v), and (x), and Section 602.8, a person who willfully commits a trespass by any of the following acts is guilty of a misdemeanor: (a) Cutting down, destroying, or injuring any kind of wood or timber standing or growing upon the lands of another. (b) Carrying away any kind of wood or timber lying on those lands. (c) Maliciously injuring or severing from the freehold of another anything attached to it, or its produce. (d) Digging, taking, or carrying away from a lot situated within the limits of an incorporated city, without the license of the owner or legal occupant, any earth, soil, or stone.
Full Breakdown
Lodi does not maintain a separate municipal 'do-not-knock' registry. Instead, the City relies on the long-standing common-law principle (reaffirmed by California courts and codified through Cal. Penal Code §602) that a homeowner's posted 'No Soliciting' or 'No Trespassing' sign revokes the implied invitation that ordinarily allows a stranger to walk up the path and knock. Once that invitation is withdrawn, a solicitor who continues to approach is trespassing. This applies to ALL solicitors, including religious canvassers (Jehovah's Witnesses, LDS missionaries), political canvassers, and charitable fundraisers who are otherwise constitutionally exempt from Lodi's LMC Title 5 commercial-solicitor permit requirement under Watchtower Bible & Tract Society v.
S. 150 (2002). Lodi PD will respond to a complaint of solicitation after sign, ask the solicitor to leave, and can issue a citation under Penal Code §602 if the conduct continues. The sign must be legibly visible from the path of approach (typically at the front door, gate, or driveway entrance), a sign hidden behind a planter is not legal notice. Federal law: the Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR Part 310) does not apply to in-person solicitation, but the federal Do Not Call Registry does NOT cover door-to-door visits.
Violations & Fines
Trespass under Cal. Penal Code §602(o) (refusing to leave private property after request) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 fine and/or 6 months in county jail. Repeat trespass at the same property may trigger a stay-away order under Penal Code §602.1. If the solicitor is also operating without a Lodi LMC Title 5 commercial-solicitor permit, additional fines under LMC §1.08.010 apply (up to $1,000). Report violations to Lodi PD non-emergency: 209-333-6727.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lodi have a 'do-not-knock' registry I can sign up for?
Does my 'No Soliciting' sign apply to Jehovah's Witnesses and political canvassers?
Where should I post the sign for it to count legally?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lodi
California rules heatmap·Compare Lodi to another location·View the California soliciting & door-to-door overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
No-Knock Registry in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Joaquin County handle no-knock registry.