City of Sarasota Code Chapter 23 (Peddlers and Solicitors) requires a permit for any person engaging in door-to-door commercial solicitation within the City. Religious, charitable, and political canvassing are typically exempt under First Amendment protections. Permitted hours are typically 9:00 a.m. to sunset, with no-knock list compliance required.
Ch. 23 establishes the permit regime for peddlers and commercial solicitors. Applicants must provide identification, fingerprints, criminal background check, and proof of merchandise/service legitimacy. Permits are issued by the City Clerk and must be carried on-person while soliciting. Restricted hours typically run 9 a.m. to sunset (or 8:00 p.m., whichever is later). Properties with 'No Solicitors' signs must be honored - failure to honor is a Ch. 23 violation. Religious, political, and charitable canvassing have First Amendment protections (Watchtower v. Stratton, 2002) and cannot be required to obtain commercial-solicitor permits, though basic identification rules can apply.
Soliciting without a Ch. 23 permit is a municipal code violation - up to $500 per offense under Sec. 1-11. Ignoring 'No Solicitors' signs or soliciting after sunset can also be cited. Repeat violators can have permits revoked.
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