Solicitor Information

Instructions for Door-to-Door Solicitation

The Village of Lake Zurich frequently receives inquiries regarding persons going door-to-door and soliciting. Please review the following information about our solicitation guidelines and some suggestions for interacting with solicitors.

Those wishing to solicit must apply for and be approved for a permit to solicit in the Village of Lake Zurich.

Constitutional Rights of Solicitors

The First amendment and the U.S. Constitution protect the rights of door-to-door solicitors and preclude the ability of a community to ban or significantly limit door-to-door sales.   The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld free speech for commercial purposes and the ability of municipalities to restrict commercial door-to-door solicitation is limited to local regulations restricting the time, place and manner of door-to-door solicitations.  Homeowners and occupants, however, do have the ultimate right to determine whether solicitors shall or shall not be invited to their residences or property.  Per the Lake Zurich Municipal Code (Chapter 4), solicitors must adhere to the following guidelines and rules regulating door-to-door solicitation:

• Every solicitor shall immediately identify himself or herself and the purpose of the solicitation to each person being solicited.
• Every solicitor shall prominently display the solicitation permit issued to the solicitor on the front of his or her person, and the outside of all clothing, at all times while soliciting within the village.
• Every solicitor must cease solicitation upon owner or occupant request.
• Every solicitor must obey posted “No Solicitor Invited” signs.
• Every solicitor may only ring bells, knock or engage with residents for solicitation between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.    

If a solicitor does not display and cannot produce a permit, they may be reported to the Lake Zurich Police Department by calling (847) 438-2349.
     
Solicitor Permit Exemptions

Persons under the age of seventeen (17) years are not required to obtain a solicitation permit to engage in solicitation within the village.

Persons engaging in charitable, political, religious, newspaper subscription solicitation, distribution of handbills, flyers, brochures, pamphlets, or leaflets are not required to obtain a solicitation permit.

How to Prevent Solicitors at Your Home 

Prominently displaying a “No Soliciting” sign at the main entrance of your home can provide adequate notice to solicitors.  A Village of Lake Zurich window cling below are available at all Village facilities.  There are also a variety of signs that can be printed from the internet. 

With or without a sign, residents should not ever be afraid to exercise boundaries with solicitors by refusing to answer their door or by politely stating ‘no thank you’ or ‘not interested’ and shutting and locking their door.       

Pushy, rude, or aggressive solicitors

Beyond the restrictions listed above, the Village of Lake Zurich does not directly regulate demeanor of individual solicitors.  Remember however, that as a homeowner or occupant you may at any time ask a solicitor to leave your property. Every resident has the right to feel secure in their home, should you feel threatened or unsafe based upon a solicitor’s behavior, contact the police department immediately at (847) 438-2349.

The Village of Lake Zurich encourages residents having complaints about aggressive or deceptive practices of a business to file a consumer complaint with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office at (800)243-0618 or online.