Universal City, TX Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuing agency
- Universal City Police Department
- Permitted hours
- 9 AM to sunset typical
- Background check
- Required
- No Soliciting signs
- Enforceable as trespass
- Exemptions
- Religious, political, charity
Summary
Door-to-door commercial solicitors must register with the Universal City Police Department, obtain a permit, and display identification. Religious and political canvassing is exempt under the First Amendment.
Sec. 30.05. CRIMINAL TRESPASS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person enters or remains on or in property of another, including residential land, agricultural land, a recreational vehicle park, a building, a general residential operation operating as a residential treatment center, or an aircraft or other vehicle, without effective consent and the person:(1) had notice that the entry was forbidden; or(2) received notice to depart but failed to do so.(b) For purposes of this section: ... (2) "Notice" means:(A) oral or written communication by the owner ...; ... (C) a sign or signs posted on the property or at the entrance to the building, reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders, indicating that entry is forbidden;
Full Breakdown
Universal City requires commercial door-to-door solicitors, peddlers, and transient merchants to register with the Police Department and obtain a solicitor permit before going door-to-door to residences. The application typically requires photo identification, a criminal background check, proof of the business for which the person is soliciting, and a nominal permit fee. Permitted hours are typically 9:00 AM to sunset, and solicitation is prohibited at residences posting No Soliciting signs, which creates both a permit violation and a criminal trespass basis under Texas Penal Code 30.05. Permits are denied to applicants with recent convictions for fraud, theft, or offenses involving dishonesty. Non-commercial activity including religious proselytizing, political canvassing, and charitable solicitation by recognized nonprofits is exempt from the permit requirement under First Amendment protections established by the Supreme Court in Watchtower v. Stratton. Residents who feel pressured or suspect fraud should call Universal City Police at 210-658-5353 and request the solicitor display their city permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Jehovahs Witnesses and political canvassers need a permit?
What if a solicitor ignores my No Soliciting sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Universal City
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Solicitor Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bexar County handle solicitor permits.