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Nashville Council Advances Bill to Rein In Aggressive Door-to-Door Solicitors
A Metro Council bill sponsored by Jordan Huffman would restrict solicitation to daylight hours, require visible city permits, and give Metro Codes power to cite and revoke permits for repeat offenders. It passed its second vote and needs one more to become law.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. â A bill aimed at curbing aggressive door-to-door solicitation in Davidson County cleared its second Metro Council vote this week, moving one step closer to becoming law.
The legislation, sponsored by Council Member Jordan Huffman, would limit when salespeople and business representatives can knock on doors, require them to display a visible city-issued permit, and empower Metro Codes to issue citations and revoke permits from repeat offenders.
Under the proposal, solicitors would be allowed to knock only during daylight hours and no earlier than 10 a.m. The restrictions would not apply to religious organizations such as churches or to political candidates and organizations, which are shielded by First Amendment protections.
The push follows complaints from residents who say solicitors have become increasingly persistent, sometimes refusing to leave after being told no. A Change.org petition calling for stronger enforcement reports nearly 500 complaints filed over the past two years. One commenter described encounters as a potential safety threat, writing that solicitors show up after dark, are asked to leave, and "still stay at your door, harassing you, even insulting you."
Huffman said the county's existing No-Knock Registry, which lets residents opt out of solicitation for up to two years, lacks enforcement power. "We have a no-knock registry in Davidson County that you can stay on for up to two years. The issue is there's no teeth to it," Huffman said during last Thursday's Metro Council meeting.
Residents on the registry, or anyone who encounters an overly persistent solicitor, can submit complaints through Hub Nashville, the city's online service portal.
Concerns have extended beyond high-pressure sales tactics. Over the summer, Metro Police shared doorbell camera images warning residents about suspected thieves allegedly posing as landscapers.
Officials encourage residents to ask solicitors for identification and a city permit, or simply not to answer the door. "At the end of the day, if you're in your home and you don't want somebody to knock on your door, you deserve that right, and this is what that bill does," Huffman said.
The bill must pass one final vote before it becomes law.