Wausau, WI Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)
Key Facts
- No-call hours
- 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., no appointment
- Posted-sign rule
- 'No Peddlers'/'No Solicitors' signs bar calling
- Rear-door calls
- Prohibited outright
- First-offense penalty
- $100.00 to $500.00 forfeiture
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 5.60.070(a)(1)
Summary
Wausau bars direct sellers from calling at any dwelling between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. without an appointment, or at any home posted with a 'No Peddlers' or 'No Solicitors' sign. Sellers must also leave immediately when asked and may not knock at rear doors.
(a) Prohibited practices. (1) A direct seller shall be prohibited from: calling at any dwelling or other place between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., except by appointment; calling at any dwelling or other place where a sign is displayed bearing the words "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors," or words of similar meaning; calling at the rear door of any dwelling place; or remaining on any premises after being asked to leave by the owner, occupant, or other person having authority over such premises. [...] Any person convicted of violating any provision of this chapter shall forfeit not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00, plus costs of prosecution, for the first offense and not less than $500.00, nor more than $1,000.00 for a second or subsequent offenses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Wausau Municipal Code § 5.60.070(a)(1) sets the no-knock rules for direct sellers, a term covering peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants under § 5.60.020. A direct seller is prohibited from calling at any dwelling or other place between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. except by appointment, from calling at a dwelling displaying a sign reading 'No Peddlers,' 'No Solicitors,' or words of similar meaning, from calling at the rear door of any dwelling, and from remaining on a premises after the owner or occupant asks the seller to leave.
The same section separately bars misrepresentation about the goods, purpose or identity of the seller (§ 5.60.070(a)(2)), blocking sidewalks or streets (§ 5.60.070(a)(3)), and loud noise or amplified sound audible beyond a 100-foot radius (§ 5.60.070(a)(4)). Direct sellers must also disclose their name and affiliation before any other statement, and must visibly display their City-issued license and photo ID while working (§ 5.60.070(b)(1), (4)). The Chief of Police reports convictions to the City Clerk, who logs the violation on the registrant's record (§ 5.60.080), and a pattern of violations is grounds for the Public Health and Safety Committee to revoke a registration after notice and hearing (§ 5.60.090).
These hours and posted-sign rules function as Wausau's no-knock registry: a resident's own posted sign is sufficient notice under the ordinance, with no separate City-run do-not-solicit list required.
Violations & Fines
A direct seller who violates the 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. calling restriction or ignores a posted 'No Solicitors' sign is subject to Chapter 5.60's penalty in § 5.60.100: a forfeiture of $100.00 to $500.00 for a first offense and $500.00 to $1,000.00 for a second or later offense, plus costs of prosecution, with each day a separate violation. Repeat violations can also trigger license revocation under § 5.60.090.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours can a solicitor knock on my door in Wausau?
Does a 'No Soliciting' sign on my door have legal effect in Wausau?
Can a solicitor keep knocking after I ask them to leave?
What happens if a solicitor breaks Wausau's calling-hours rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wausau
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How other cities in Marathon County handle no-knock registry.