Schenectady County, NY Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)

Schenectady County does not maintain a county-wide do-not-knock registry, but several municipalities operate their own or recognize posted No Solicitation signs as enforceable against commercial solicitors. The City of Schenectady permits residents to post signage that, under Code Chapter 201 or its equivalent, creates a presumption of trespass for any peddler or solicitor who approaches after seeing the sign. Commercial solicitors licensed under the municipality's peddler ordinance must honor clearly posted notices; violation can result in license revocation and trespass citation. Constitutionally protected activity - religious proselytizing (Watchtower Bible v. Village of Stratton, 536 U.S. 150, 2002), political canvassing, and charitable solicitation to some degree - is not subject to the same registry/sign enforcement. Some towns, including Niskayuna, have adopted formal do-not-knock lists maintained by the town clerk; residents register their address and solicitors are issued the list as a license condition. Federal Do-Not-Call Registry applies to telephone solicitation, not in-person.