Are IL salespeople required to heed a ‘no soliciting’ sign? What state law allows
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- Belleville’s city code requires solicitors to hold a $200 annual license.
- Belleville residents may post standardized “No Solicitors Invited” signs to block visits.
- Solicitors must leave on request and obey posted signs in Belleville.
The doorbell rings, and you open it to find a salesperson trying to sell you solar panels or roof repairs. Is this practice allowed in Belleville, and if so, what restrictions exist to protect residents and consumers?
Soliciting is protected under the First Amendment, but states and municipalities may regulate the practice by setting specific hours, requiring door-to-door salespeople to heed signs and requiring permits.
“There are some statewide laws that regulate certain kinds of solicitation, particularly around consumer fraud,” Teri Ross, executive director of Illinois Legal Aid Online, said in an Oct. 31 interview with the News-Democrat.
The Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act outlines consumer protections for residents conducting business with door-to-door solicitors, such as giving someone three business days to cancel a contract and requiring certain information and estimates to be included in any contracts.
The state also has a Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, which forbids solicitors for acting under false pretenses, deceiving customers, concealing or omitting material facts and more.
In addition to the statewide legislation, the city of Belleville has its own rules and regulations on soliciting. Here’s what to know next time your doorbell rings.
What does Belleville’s city code say about soliciting?
The city of Belleville requires solicitors to obtain a license, which costs $200 per year. The fee was increased from $100 to $200 in 2024, and an even steeper increase was on the table.
To receive a permit, in addition to paying the fee, a solicitor must submit a written sworn application to the city clerk that includes the applicant’s name, a permanent business address and phone number and more.
“Upon receipt, the City Clerk shall refer all applications or registration statements for peddlers and solicitors to the Police Department for review or investigation of the representations in applications or registration statements,” Belleville’s city code reads.
Permit holders’ businesses may not pose a “substantial threat to the public health, safety, morals or general welfare,” the code continues, and permits may be suspended or revoked in cases of fraud, misrepresentation or false statements or other violations of the rules.
Door-to-door salespeople in Belleville are required to carry their registration certificate identification or license and must show it upon request of any law enforcement officer or a resident whose home they are calling upon.
Belleville’s city policy on soliciting says its residents “shall make the determination of whether solicitors shall be, or shall not be, invited to their respective residences.”
Illinois does not have a statewide law requiring solicitors to heed “No Solicitors Invited” signs, Ross said, but Belleville’s city code does. Many other Illinois municipalities also require solicitors to respect the signs, but the rules do vary.
Belleville residents who do not wish solicitors to visit their homes should display a sign stating “No Solicitors Invited,” with requirements for letter sizing. The city code outlines, for uniformity purposes, that a resident may request such a sign from the police chief, at cost.
When a solicitor approaches a Belleville home, they are required to look for a “No Solicitors Invited” sign. If the home has one, the solicitor must “immediately and peacefully depart from the premises,” city code reads. Regardless of whether a residence has posted a no soliciting sign, a solicitor must leave when requested to do so by the resident.
Belleville’s city code also prohibits door-to-door soliciting before 9 a.m., after 9 p.m. or at any time on Sundays or state or national holidays.
Violating Belleville’s city ordinance on solicitation can result in a fine of up to $750, with each day’s violation constituting a separate offense.
Residents with signs stating “No Solicitors Invited” may also add themselves to a solicitor “no knock” list online. The list is provided to all licensed solicitors in Belleville, according to the city’s website.
If a solicitor knocks on your door despite your “No Solicitors Invited” sign, you can file a complaint with the Belleville Police Department’s non-emergency line at 618-234-1212.
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This story was originally published November 13, 2025 at 4:45 AM.
