In 2019, Westlake amended an ordinance that tightened up the rules and regulations of door-to-door solicitations. Unfortunately, municipalities are now experiencing limitations in controlling solicitors due to recent Supreme Court decisions. Westlake Town staff, along with our Town attorney and police chief, are discussing related policies and procedures that help ensure the safety, welfare, convenience, and protection of the Town and you, as we may experience an uptick in solicitor permit requests.
As our policies in Westlake stand now, all solicitors must register/apply and obtain a valid permit annually before any solicitation or distribution begins. Valid permits must be obtained by each person soliciting. Multiple people or a business cannot share one permit. Once obtained, solicitors must display and/or carry with them a valid permit as required by our ordinance and present it if requested. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in solicitation or handbill distribution on private property, which includes gated neighborhood streets and homes. Solicitors shall not engage in solicitation before 9:00 a.m. or after dusk Monday through Saturday, and never on Sunday or any federally designated holiday.
Any person, firm, or corporation violating these ordinances shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and possibly fined up to $500 for each offense. If a solicitor approaches you without a valid permit or before/after the designated hours, please call Keller Police’s NON-EMERGENCY number at 817-743-4500. As a general reminder, if you are unsure or feel unsafe by the presence or actions of anyone in your neighborhood or on your property, please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1.
Right now, a "Do Not Solicit" list is being developed with information on how you may be added to the list forthcoming and placed on our website. “We want to ensure you that your privacy, safety, and security are maintained within the parameters of the laws established by the state. Over the summer, Town staff began meetings with residents and HOAs so we can better establish policies that balance the needs of our residents with applicable laws”, says Westlake Deputy Town Manager, Noah Simon.
Once any needed amendments and/or policies and procedures are finalized, Staff will send out additional information through our usual channels of email, website postings, social media, and future Simply Westlake articles, as well as discuss during annual Neighborhood Town Meetings, to reach as many of you as possible about this topic.
