Chapter 5.36
TRANSIENT MERCHANTS, PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS

Sections:

5.36.010    Purpose.

5.36.020    Definitions.

5.36.030    Exemptions.

5.36.040    Claims of exemption.

5.36.050    Regulation of direct sellers and solicitors.

5.36.060    Prohibited practices.

5.36.070    Disclosure requirements.

5.36.080    Revocation.

5.36.085    Brookfield Civic Center Farmer’s Market.

5.36.090    Penalty for violation of this chapter.

5.36.010 Purpose.

This chapter is intended to protect against criminal activity, including fraud and burglary, to minimize the unwelcome disturbance of citizens and the disruption of privacy and to otherwise preserve the public health, safety and welfare by regulating, controlling and licensing door-to-door solicitors and peddlers as well as other transient merchant trade.

The regulations contained in this chapter are not intended to regulate speech by any person, but merely regulate the activities of those individuals selling or offering for sale merchandise or requesting contributions for a charitable purpose.

It shall be unlawful for any direct seller, transient merchant, or charitable solicitor to engage in sales and solicitation within the city without being registered for that purpose as provided herein. (Ord. 1574 § 1(1), 1996)

5.36.020 Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

“Charitable organization” means any patriotic, philanthropic, social service, welfare, benevolent, educational, civic, cultural, religious or fraternal, person, partnership, association or corporation.

“Contributions” means and includes alms, food, clothing, money, property, financial assistance or other thing of value. A contribution, as defined herein, shall also include a sale or offer to sell any book, card, magazine, membership, merchandise, subscription, ticket or other thing in connection with which an appeal is made of any charitable or religious purpose.

“Direct seller” means any individual who, for him/herself, or for a partnership, association or corporation, sells goods or services, or takes sales orders for the later delivery of goods or services, at any location other than the permanent business place or residence of the individual, partnership, association or corporation, and shall include, but not be limited to, peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants. The sale of goods includes donations or contributions, whether direct or indirect, required by the direct seller for the retention of goods by a donor or prospective customer.

“Merchandise” means and includes personal property of any kind, and shall include merchandise, goods or materials provided incidental to services offered or sold. The sale of merchandise includes donations required by the seller for the retention of goods by a donor or prospective customer.

“Permanent merchant” means a direct seller who, for at least one year prior to the date of the application of this chapter to the merchant:

1.    Has continuously operated an established place of business in the local trade area which includes the greater metropolitan Milwaukee trade area;

2.    Has established residence in the local trade area which includes the greater metropolitan trade area.

“Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, church, religious sect, religious denomination, society, organization or league, or one purporting to be.

“Solicit” and “solicitation” means and includes any one or more of the following:

1.    Selling or offering for sale, or taking or attempting to take orders for the sale of goods or services of any kind, character or description;

2.    Selling or offering for sale, or taking or attempting to take orders for books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers and every other type or kind or publication;

3.    Requesting, directly or indirectly, contributions on the plea or representation that such contributions will be used for a charitable or religious purpose.

“Street vendor” means any person who publicly displays, exposes for sale or offers for sale any goods or services from, upon or in any vehicle, nonpermanent structure or in the open, upon any property of which he is not the legally permitted occupant, including public property.

“Transient merchant” means any person who engages in the retail sale of merchandise at any place in this city temporarily and who does not intend to become and does not become a permanent merchant of this city. (Ord. 1574 § 1(2), 1996)

5.36.030 Exemptions.

The following shall be exempt from all provisions of this chapter:

A.    Any person delivering to regular customers on established routes;

B.    Any person selling merchandise at wholesale to dealers in such merchandise;

C.    Any person selling agricultural products which the person has grown;

D.    Any person holding a sale required by statute or by order of any court and any person conducting a bona fide auction sale pursuant to law;

E.    Any person who has an established place of business where the merchandise being sold is offered for sale on a regular basis, and in which the buyer has initiated contact with, and specifically requested, a home visit by the person;

F.    This chapter does not apply to transient merchants while doing business at special events authorized by the common council;

G.    Any person exempt by Section 440.51 of the Wisconsin Statutes (statewide peddlers license for veterans);

H.    Any person selling or offering for sale on behalf of a nonprofit organization sponsored by or affiliated with an athletic sport or public or parochial school. The exemption would apply but not be limited to the following organizations: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Elmbrook Swim Club, Brookfield Soccer Association, etc. (Ord. 1574 § 1(3), 1996)

5.36.040 Claims of exemption.

Any person claiming to be legally exempt from the regulations set forth in this chapter, or from the payment of a permit fee, shall cite to the city clerk the statute or other legal authority under which exemption is claimed and shall present the city clerk proof of qualification for such exemption. (Ord. 1574 § 1(8), 1996)

5.36.050 Regulation of direct sellers and solicitors.

A.    Permit Required. No direct seller or solicitor shall engage in such business within the city without first receiving a permit.

B.    Application for a Permit. An applicant for permit under this section shall file with the city clerk, a sworn application, in writing, on a form provided by the city clerk which shall require the necessary information from the applicant as the city clerk police department shall require for the effective enforcement of this section and the safeguarding of the residents of the city from fraud, misconduct or abuse.

C.    Permit Fee. At the time the application is filed with the clerk’s office, the applicant shall pay a fee to cover the cost to the city of processing the application and investigating the facts stated therein. The permit fee shall be nonrefundable. A permit fee as specified in Section 3.24.050(FF) for each business or organization filing an application shall be collected. Charitable solicitors shall not be required to pay the permit fee; however, proof of tax exempt status must be furnished to the city clerk.

1.    An additional fee shall be collected from each business or organization filing an application to cover the costs of a records check for each solicitor. This fee will be charged to all solicitors, charitable or otherwise, and shall include actual costs associated with the records check. The fee shall be due at the time of application and shall be nonrefundable.

2.    The permit shall be granted for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days for door-to-door solicitation with one thirty (30) day administrative extension. The fee for hotel sales will cover a period of one year or not more than four sale periods, whichever comes first. A sales period cannot exceed three consecutive calendar days. Solicitors requesting permits for hotel sales need to identify the sale dates to the clerk’s office. The fee for ice cream vendors shall be granted for a period not to exceed May through September.

3.    Ice cream vendors and other solicitors operating from a moving vehicle will need to show proof of liability insurance with a minimum limit of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00).

D.    Investigation/Disapproval. Upon receipt of the permit and solicitation fee, the city clerk may refer the application to the chief of police or his designee who shall complete an investigation of the statements made in such application as deemed necessary to ensure the protection of the public health, safety and general welfare. The chief of police or his designee, shall report his findings upon the application. The city clerk shall issue or deny the permit in accordance with those findings.

The city clerk may refuse to issue a permit to the applicant under this chapter for any of the following reasons:

1.    The location and time of solicitation or peddling would endanger the safety and welfare of the solicitors, peddlers or their customers;

2.    An investigation reveals that the applicant falsified information on the application;

3.    Within the last five years, the applicant has been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or ordinance violation involving offenses relating to theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, other crimes related to property or any offenses related to crimes against life and bodily security, public health and safety, sexual morality, children and the public peace or any offense which relates to the licensed activity;

4.    The applicant has been denied a permit under this chapter within the immediate past year, unless the applicant can and does show to the satisfaction of the city clerk that the reasons for such earlier denial no longer exist.

An applicant who has properly supplied all pertinent information, and who is approved, shall be issued a direct sellers/solicitation permit. Each solicitor must carry a copy of their license while soliciting in the city.

E.    Appeal. The application’s disapproval and the reasons for disapproval shall be noted on the application, and the applicant shall be notified that his application is disapproved and that no permit will be issued. Notice shall be mailed to the applicant at the address shown on the application form, or at the applicant’s last known address.

Any person denied a license may appeal the denial through the legislative and licensing committee of the common council. The city clerk must be notified by the person requesting an appeal. If the application is denied, the license fee will not be refunded. (Ord. 2331-13 § 4(Y), 2013; Ord. 1973-04 § 1, 2004: Ord. 1734 § 3 (part), 2000; Ord. 1574 § 1(4), 1996)

5.36.060 Prohibited practices.

The direct seller, charitable solicitor and permanent merchant shall be prohibited from:

A.    Calling at any dwelling or other place between the hours of eight p.m. and nine-thirty a.m. except by appointment;

B.    Calling at any dwelling or other place where a sign is displayed bearing the words “No Peddlers,” “No Solicitors” or words of similar meaning;

C.    Calling at the rear door of any dwelling place; or remaining on premises after being asked to leave by the owner, occupant or any other person having authority over such premises;

D.    Making false, deceptive or misleading statements concerning the quality, quantity or character of any goods offered for sale, the purpose of their visit, or identity of the organization being represented;

E.    Not more than two individuals shall engage in direct selling or solicitation upon any premises for the same goods or services or for the same religious or charitable purposes;

F.    No transient merchant, permanent merchant or charitable organization shall make any loud noises to attract customers that can be heard outside the radius of one thousand (1,000) feet;

G.    No direct seller or charitable solicitor shall solicit or conduct business with persons in motor vehicles upon a road, street or alley, as defined by Section 340.01(22) in the Wisconsin State Statutes;

H.    No ice cream vendor or solicitor operating from a moving vehicle shall continue sales during the hours of darkness as defined in Wisconsin State Statutes 340.01(23).

I.    Permits are not valid for use on January 1st, the Thursday prior to Easter through Easter, the Thursday of Thanksgiving through the Sunday following, and December 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st. (Ord. 2108-07 § 1, 2007; Ord. 2014-05 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1574 § 1(5), 1996)

5.36.070 Disclosure requirements.

A.    After the initial greeting and before any other statement is made to a prospective customer, a direct seller, permanent merchant or charitable organization shall expressly disclose their name, the name of the company or organization they are affiliated with, if any, and the identity of merchandise or services they offer to sell or purpose for the solicitation.

B.    If any sale of merchandise is made by a direct seller, permanent merchant, or charitable organization or any sales order for the later delivery of merchandise is taken by the seller, the buyer shall have the right to cancel the transaction if it involves the extension of credit or is a cash transaction of more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), in accordance with the procedure as set forth in Section 423.203, Wisconsin Statutes, the seller shall give the buyer two copies of a typed or printed notice of that fact. Such notice shall conform to the requirements of Sections 423.203(1)(a), (b) and (c), (2) and (3), Wisconsin Statutes.

C.    If the direct seller, permanent merchant, or charitable organization takes a sales order for the later delivery of merchandise, they shall, at the time the order is taken, provide the buyer with a written statement containing the terms of the agreement, the amount paid in advance, whether full, partial or no advance payment is made, the name, address and telephone number of the seller, the delivery or performance date and whether a guarantee or warranty is provided and, if so, the terms thereof. (Ord. 1574 § 1(6), 1996)

5.36.080 Revocation.

A permit may be revoked by the city clerk if the permittee made any material omission or materially inaccurate statement in the application for registration, made any fraudulent, false, deceptive or misleading statement or representation in the course of engaging in direct sales, violated any provisions of this chapter or was convicted of any crime or ordinance or statutory violation which is directly related to the registrant’s fitness to engage in direct selling. The permit may also be revoked if the permittee conducts peddling or solicitation activities contrary to the provisions contained in the permit or in such a manner as to create a public nuisance, constitute a breach of the peace or endanger the health, safety or general welfare of the public.

Notice of such revocation and the reason or reasons therefor, in writing, shall be immediately served personally upon the person named in the application, or by mailing the same to the permit holder at the named premises, and by filing a copy of such notice with the city clerk. Appeal from revocation shall be made to the legislative and licensing committee within thirty (30) days of the date of revocation. (Ord. 1734 § 3 (part), 2000; Ord. 1574 § 1(7), 1996)

5.36.085 Brookfield Civic Center Farmer’s Market.

The establishment and operation of a Brookfield Civic Center Farmer’s Market is approved, to be regulated and directed by a volunteer nonprofit organization known as the Brookfield Civic Center Farmer’s Market. An agreement, and forms of applications and rules have been previously approved, and the operation shall be conducted as therein provided. The annual license fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00). The license shall cover both the market and the vendors approved by the market. This section shall be amended as necessary for subsequent license periods. Also, this use shall be subject to review by a temporary use permit through community development. (Ord. 1792 § 1, 2001)

5.36.090 Penalty for violation of this chapter.

Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation who violates any part of this chapter shall be subject to the penalty and enforcement provisions in Chapter 1.12. (Ord. 2552-19 § 18, 2019: Ord. 1574 § 1(9), 1996)