[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Lancaster 12-13-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-06. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Board of Supervisors of Lancaster Township finds and declares that the provisions of this chapter are enacted to establish regulations regarding solicitation, peddling and canvassing within Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Except as otherwise indicated, all provisions in this chapter shall be applied to all solicitation, peddling and canvassing within the jurisdictional boundaries of Lancaster Township.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in commercial or business solicitation, peddling and/or canvassing for the purposes of soliciting orders, sales or subscriptions for any goods, wares or merchandise, or for the purposes soliciting or obtaining any business or commercial information, without first having registered with and obtained a permit from the Township.
Any person seeking such a permit shall submit a written application with the Township on a form provided by the Township, containing the following information:
A. 
Name, address, telephone number, and contact person for the principal applicant;
B. 
The nature of the goods, wares, merchandise or services that are to be sold or distributed;
C. 
The proposed method of solicitation and/or operation within the Township, including but not limited to days and hours of solicitation, peddling or canvassing;
D. 
A list of all persons who will solicit or canvass in the Township on behalf of applicant, including name, address, telephone number, and a general description;
E. 
A current photograph to be affixed to the permit for purposes of personal identification; and
F. 
Such other and further information as the Township may deem relevant and require from time to time.
No person shall solicit, peddle or canvass within the Township without possessing a current, valid copy of the official permit issued by the Township, together with such other identification as may be required by Township. Such person shall solicit, peddle or canvass only these items, commodities, services or subscriptions identified in the registration application.
A. 
The following are exempt from the requirement to secure a permit when conducting activities consistent with their charter and under the protection of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. However, soliciting funds, selling items, or other similar activities are not exempt in this requirement for a permit.
(1) 
Officers or employees of the Township, county, state or federal government, or any subdivision thereof, when on official business;
(2) 
Charitable, religious or nonprofit organizations or corporations which have received tax exempt status under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3), or other similar civic, charitable or nonprofit organization; and
(3) 
Representatives of political organizations.
B. 
Activities and arrangements having prior consent of the occupant are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
No groups or organizations are exempt from the provisions of § 221-8 of this chapter.
Solicitation and canvassing shall only occur within the Township during the following hours:
A. 
Monday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
B. 
Saturday and Sunday 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
No solicitor, peddler or canvasser shall contact any residence within the Township that is posted with signage providing that such contact, solicitation or canvassing is not desired by the resident thereof.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a fine for not more than $500 for each violation. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense.
This chapter shall be effective five days after the date of passage of this chapter.
If any section, subsection, sentence, or clause of this chapter is held, for any reason, to be invalid, such decision or decisions shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.