Whatcom County, WA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- RCW 9A.52.010(2); RCW 9A.52.080
- Trigger
- Conspicuously posted "No Soliciting" sign
- Offense
- Criminal trespass, second degree
- Penalty class
- Misdemeanor
- Applies
- Statewide, incl. unincorporated county
- Local registry
- None; no county no-knock list
Summary
Washington's criminal trespass law, not a special "do-not-knock" ordinance, is what makes a posted "No Soliciting" sign enforceable in unincorporated Whatcom County. RCW 9A.52.010(2) says a person "enters or remains unlawfully" once notice against entry, including a conspicuously posted sign, revokes any implied license to be on the property, and RCW 9A.52.080 makes knowingly entering or remaining after that notice a criminal trespass in the second degree, a misdemeanor.
"Enters or remains unlawfully." A person "enters or remains unlawfully" in or upon premises when he or she is not then licensed, invited, or otherwise privileged to so enter or remain. ... A license or privilege to enter or remain on improved and apparently used land that is open to the public at particular times, which is neither fenced nor otherwise enclosed in a manner to exclude intruders, is not a license or privilege to enter or remain on the land at other times if notice of prohibited times of entry is posted in a conspicuous manner. ... A person is guilty of criminal trespass in the second degree if he or she knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises of another under circumstances not constituting criminal trespass in the first degree. Criminal trespass in the second degree is a misdemeanor.
Full Breakdown
52. 010(2) defines when a person "enters or remains unlawfully": it happens whenever someone is not then licensed, invited, or otherwise privileged to enter or remain. The statute goes further for exactly the situation a posted sign creates: even land open to the public at particular times and neither fenced nor enclosed loses its implied license to enter "at other times if notice of prohibited times of entry is posted in a conspicuous manner," and unimproved land loses its implied license once notice against trespass is personally communicated by the owner or notice is given by posting in a conspicuous manner.
A resident's clearly posted "No Soliciting" or "No Trespassing" sign is exactly this kind of notice, so a solicitor who knocks anyway after seeing it is no longer privileged to be on the property. 080 then supplies the criminal charge: knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully on another's premises under circumstances not constituting first-degree trespass is criminal trespass in the second degree, a misdemeanor. 52 solicitor-and-canvasser licensing rules govern permits and hours for licensed canvassers but do not create this no-knock enforcement mechanism themselves.
Violations & Fines
Violating RCW 9A.52.080 by knowingly entering or remaining on posted property is a misdemeanor, chargeable in Whatcom County district court and enforceable by any deputy or officer who confirms the property was posted or that notice against entry was otherwise given. Because second-degree criminal trespass, reserved for circumstances "not constituting criminal trespass in the first degree," is the applicable tier for an ordinary posted residence, a solicitor who ignores a conspicuously posted sign faces that misdemeanor charge rather than the more serious first-degree offense reserved for unlawful entry into a dwelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Whatcom County have a 'no-knock' or do-not-solicit registry?
Is a posted sign enough to make solicitation illegal in Whatcom County?
What is the penalty for ignoring a 'No Soliciting' sign in Whatcom County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whatcom County
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