Community Standards: “Are You Concerned About Solicitors in Your Neighborhood?”

Are You Concerned About Solicitors in Your Neighborhood?

Ÿ Do You Know Your Rights? Ÿ Do You Know a Peddler’s Rights? Your Community Standards office often receives calls regarding solicitors or peddlers who are ringing doorbells in Sun City Summerlin neighborhoods. Most are honest, hardworking folks trying to earn a living and/or showing their support for a political candidate or religious organization.

Solicitors may be intrusive or disruptive to your privacy or daily routine and may understandably raise concerns for one’s safety. There are many misconceptions about the rights of solicitors as they pertain to calling on your home, but there are definite City of Las Vegas and Clark County code requirements that are designed to protect your privacy. For solicitors to be ringing your doorbell, they must meet firm licensing requirements, including those listed on the City of Las Vegas Business Licensing Division website.

Contrary to not-so-popular belief, Solicitors or Peddlers do not need the approval of Sun City Administration or the Community Standards Office because . . . all Sun City streets are city-owned public streets!

It’s good to know that the City of Las Vegas does not take the presence of a peddler lightly and, in addition to a Peddler Permit, a peddler must pre-qualify by obtaining a “Sheriff’s Work Card,” which is issued by Metro’s Records and Fingerprint Bureau. The Work Permit represents yet another layer of scrutiny, which includes interviewing, photographing, and fingerprinting the applicants.

However, licensed or not, under City code, your best defense against unwanted visits from solicitors may be a properly placed sign on your front gate or in your front entry that says, “NO SOLICITORS ALLOWED,” or similar wording. Such a sign legally prohibits a solicitor from entering your property and ringing your doorbell.

If you have a notice in place, and solicitors enter your property, they are violating municipal code, may be reported and are subject to citation. However, if you invite them in, they are absolved of any compliance requirements, despite any sign. Various easily accessed City of Las Vegas websites provide specific details of peddler licensing and conduct requirements.

Otherwise, there is little that can be done to stop solicitors from ringing your doorbell if they have proper credentials, as defined below. Importantly, the Community Standards Office does not endorse any company or product or otherwise encourage soliciting in any way.

Municipal code allows anyone to solicit anywhere in the City between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., including in Sun City Summerlin.

In order to solicit, a representative of any soliciting company is required to carry a city-issued “Peddler Permit” or a copy of their company’s “Clark County Business License.” Said permit or license must be displayed on request of any person. Company ID does not satisfy the license or permit requirements. A company badge or business card is not enough!

Separately, it should be noted that Municipal code allows any religious or political “canvasser” to work anywhere in the city, including Sun City Summerlin, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with only proper organization credentials and no other soliciting permit required.

In light of the above signage message, please note that the Sun City Summerlin Development Standards provide guidance on size and placement for all residential signage. In the case of “Solicitation” signs, the following Standard applies. An application for same must be submitted to the Community Standards office.

Sun City Summerlin Development Standards, page 17, section 3: “No Soliciting” Signs Number of signs: One sign in the front of the Dwelling. Type/Size: Weather resistant thirty-six (36) square inches maximum.

We hope that this information will provide you with a better understanding of the rules that govern the folks who visit our community to sell their wares. You have every right to ask for credentials and should feel comfortable in doing so. Peddlers will be expecting your questions!

Thank you,

Department of Planning Business Licensing Division 495 S. Main St Las Vegas, NV 89101

Peddlers and Solicitors

To sell, offer for sale, or solicit orders for goods or services upon the streets, sidewalks, or alleys of the City, or by going from dwelling to dwelling or place to place whether by foot or by other means of transportation. 1. Provide proof of compliance with the Nevada Secretary of State located at 2250 Las

Vegas Boulevard North, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030. For additional information call (702) 486-2880 or visit their website at www.nvsilverflume.gov. Provide proof of compliance with the Nevada Department of Taxation located at 700 E Warm Springs

Road, 2nd Floor, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. For additional information call (866) 9623707 or visit their website at www.nvsilverflume.gov.

2. Obtain and provide to the City of Las Vegas a surety bond in the amount of $5,000.

Bond must be conditioned to be paid to the City of Las Vegas or to any person who suffers any damage by reason of any misrepresentation or violation of the provisions of

LVMC 6.30 by the licensee, his agents, or employees.

3. Each principal and each employee of the business must obtain and maintain a valid work card pursuant to Las Vegas Municipal Code Chapter 6.86. Call (702) 828-3271 for additional information.

4. At least ten working days prior to commencing business, bring a completed temporary license application and all applicable items listed above to the Business Licensing

Division, 495 S. Main St., Las Vegas NV 89101.

5. Fees due with the application are $50.00 per week for each peddler or solicitor, or $150.00 per month for permits issued on a monthly or thirty-day basis, plus a onetime application process fee of $50.00. Make checks payable to CITY OF LAS VEGAS

LICENSE.

6. After the work card investigation for a peddler/solicitor permit under this Chapter has been completed, the Director shall approve, deny, or take such other action with respect to the permit/application as he considers appropriate. The Director may deny, revoke, or suspend a permit for good cause per LVMC 6.62.060.