Murrysville considers establishing 'do not knock' list for solicitors

During the pandemic, door-to-door solicitation was not something people had to think about much.

But with restrictions largely eased and warm weather on the way, Murrysville officials expect solicitation season to be in full swing and are looking to possibly start a “do not knock” registry for residents.

“About this time of year, we start to get inundated with solicitation permit requests,” Murrysville Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said. “They have freedom of speech under the Constitution to solicit, but more often than not, once they hit the street, we begin getting calls from residents: ‘Why are they knocking on my door?’ ”

Morrison suggested that staff could look into developing an opt-out registry.

“Residents would notify the municipality that they don’t wish to have solicitors knocking, and we’d maintain an up-to-date list that’d be provided to individuals who receive a permit,” he said.

Councilwoman Jamie Lee Korns asked that, if such a registry is created, it include only street names and house numbers, not residents’ names.

“I’d hate for a solicitor to approach my children or someone else’s children, and just because they know a last name, now they seem like they’re familiar with a family,” she said.

Councilman Carl Stepanovich recalled his parents earning money at one time through the sale of Stanley Home Products. Salespeople took the door-to-door solicitation format and made it a bit more personable by organizing home parties where products were demonstrated and sold.

“Door-to-door sales served a different function back then,” Stepanovich said. “I know things are different now, and I’m in favor of the registry.”

Morrison provided council with a sample of Cranberry Township’s “do not knock” ordinance, which imposes a $1,000 fine on violators, along with the revocation of their soliciting permit.

Other communities in the region that have adopted such ordinances include Avalon, Chartiers Township, Ohio Township and Peters Township.

A number of communities in suburban Cleveland have adopted similar measures, as have cities from New Jersey to California, according to news reports.

He said if council shows interest, he can have staff begin drafting an ordinance modeled on the one in Cranberry.

“I understand that there are people who make a living doing solicitation sales, but it’s an issue of privacy for residents,” Morrison said. “There are people who don’t wish to be approached.”