Modesto, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Yes. City of Modesto
- Governing section
- MMC Title 6, Chapter 2
- No-knock mechanism
- Posted sign on private property
- No city registry
- No formal opt-out registry
- Trespass law
- CA Penal Code § 602 may apply
Summary
Modesto requires door-to-door solicitors and peddlers to obtain a city permit under MMC Title 6, Chapter 2. Solicitors who call on residences displaying a posted 'No Soliciting' sign commit a violation. Permits require identification and may require background checks.
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: ... (h) (1) Entering upon lands or buildings owned by another person without the license of the owner or legal occupant, where signs forbidding trespass are displayed ... (i) Willfully opening, tearing down, or otherwise destroying a fence on the enclosed land of another, or opening a gate, bar, or fence of another and willfully leaving it open without the written permission of the owner, or maliciously tearing down, mutilating, or destroying a sign, signboard, or other notice forbidding shooting on private property.
Full Breakdown
Modesto Municipal Code Title 6, Chapter 2 governs peddlers, solicitors, and canvassers operating door-to-door within the city. All solicitors must first obtain a permit from the City of Modesto before conducting any door-to-door commercial or charitable solicitation. Soliciting at a residence that has posted a visible 'No Soliciting' or 'No Trespassing' sign is prohibited; doing so may constitute criminal trespassing under California Penal Code § 602 in addition to a municipal code violation. Permitted solicitors must carry and display their permit upon request. Modesto does not maintain a formal city-run 'Do Not Knock' registry, but posted signs on private property carry legal weight. Code Enforcement and Modesto PD jointly enforce violations.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting without a permit or ignoring a posted 'No Soliciting' sign is an infraction under MMC Title 6. Administrative citations start at $100; repeat violations escalate to $250 and $500. Trespass charges may also apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do solicitors in Modesto need a permit?
Can I stop solicitors from coming to my door in Modesto?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Modesto
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