Seattle, WA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)
Key Facts
- Posted Signs
- No Soliciting signs must be respected by solicitors
- Trespass Law
- RCW 9A.52 – Criminal trespass for ignoring signs or refusal to leave
- Do-Not-Knock Registry
- No formal city registry; signs are the primary mechanism
- Reporting
- SPD non-emergency line for persistent violations
Summary
Seattle residents can post No Soliciting signs that solicitors must legally respect, and trespass laws protect homeowners who ask solicitors to leave their property.
Chapter 9A.52 RCW — BURGLARY AND TRESPASS. Sections: 9A.52.010 Definitions; 9A.52.020 Burglary in the first degree; 9A.52.025 Residential burglary; 9A.52.030 Burglary in the second degree; 9A.52.040 Inference of intent; 9A.52.050 Other crime in committing burglary punishable; 9A.52.060 Making or having burglar tools; 9A.52.070 Criminal trespass in the first degree; 9A.52.080 Criminal trespass in the second degree; 9A.52.090 Criminal trespass — Defenses; 9A.52.092 School bus trespass; 9A.52.095 Vehicle prowling in the first degree; 9A.52.100 Vehicle prowling in the second degree; 9A.52.105 Removal of unauthorized persons — Declaration — Liability — Rights; 9A.52.115 Removal of unauthorized persons — Declaration form — Penalty for false swearing.
Full Breakdown
Seattle residents have the right to post No Soliciting or No Trespassing signs on their property, and solicitors are legally obligated to respect them. Under Washington trespass law (RCW 9A.52), a person who enters or remains on property after being asked to leave or in defiance of posted signs commits criminal trespass. Seattle's criminal code incorporates state trespass provisions. Religious and political canvassers are generally treated differently from commercial solicitors under First Amendment protections, but even they must leave when asked. The city does not maintain a formal do-not-knock registry. Homeowners who experience aggressive or persistent solicitation can report it to the Seattle Police Department non-emergency line. Some neighborhoods have organized community-level no-soliciting agreements.
Violations & Fines
Solicitors who ignore posted signs or refuse to leave when asked may be charged with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor carrying potential jail time and fines. Aggressive or intimidating solicitation behavior may result in harassment charges. Repeated violations in a neighborhood may prompt police patrols and enforcement focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are No Soliciting signs legally enforceable in Seattle?
Does Seattle have a do-not-knock list?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
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