San Antonio Code Chapter 22 requires solicitors, peddlers, and itinerant vendors to obtain a permit from the city through SAPD. Applicants undergo fingerprinting and a background check. Religious, political, and charitable canvassing is exempt. Permitted hours are 9 AM to sunset and "No Soliciting" signs are enforceable.
San Antonio Code of Ordinances Chapter 22 (Peddlers, Solicitors, and Itinerant Vendors) requires any person engaged in door-to-door commercial sales to first obtain a permit from the city, with applications processed through the San Antonio Police Department. The applicant must submit fingerprints, pass a criminal background check, and provide identification, employer information, and a description of the goods or services to be offered. SAPD issues a photo ID that the permittee must carry and produce on request while soliciting in the city.
The ordinance is structured to comply with First Amendment principles articulated in Watchtower v. Stratton (2002): religious, political, and charitable canvassing is exempt from the permit requirement because such expressive activity cannot constitutionally be subjected to a prior license. Commercial solicitation is restricted to daylight hours (typically 9:00 AM to sunset), and commercial canvassers must respect any posted "No Soliciting" sign and leave the premises immediately.
Soliciting without a permit, soliciting after sunset, or ignoring a "No Soliciting" sign is a Class C misdemeanor under San Antonio Code, punishable by fines up to $500 per offense. Each day constitutes a separate offense. Permit revocation and criminal trespass charges may also apply.
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