There are different types of door-to-door visitors you might encounter, including peddlers, solicitors, and canvassers. Whether someone can knock on your door largely depends on their purpose for knocking and your city's ordinances.

According to the Texas Municipal League (TML) Peddlers and Solicitors Legal Q&A, you might get a knock from the following types of visitors:

• Peddlers are vendors or salespeople who may go door to door to sell or promote a product or service.
• Solicitors go door to door to ask for money. These are usually charities, political advocates, or other organizations.
• Canvassers are people who promote a political or religious idea or political candidate. They do not actively ask for donations.

If you want to deter a knock at your door, this page includes some things to keep in mind.

Are there Texas laws about salespeople going door to door?

There is no Texas law that regulates salespeople knocking on your door. However, consumers do have rights in certain door-to-door sales. These rights are outlined in Chapter 601 of the Texas Business & Commerce Code. The Texas Attorney General’s Office has more details on their website.

Instead, door-to-door salespeople are generally regulated by cities and municipalities. Section 215.031 of the Texas Local Government Code gives municipalities the authority to regulate salespeople to protect privacy and prevent fraud and crime.

For example, Chapter 42 of the Dallas city ordinances requires commercial solicitors to register with the city and obtain a permit. They must wear their permit in a way that is easily visible at all times.

To find out what the rules are for your home, you should check for local ordinances. If you need help, contact your local officials.

Are there laws about political or religious solicitors?

A canvasser is someone promoting political or religious ideas. They are not asking for donations or selling anything.

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that cities cannot enact ordinances that prevent people from sharing religious or ideological beliefs by going door to door. These court cases, such as Watchtower Bible and Tract Society v. Village of Stratton and Martin v. City of Struthers, protect the right to religious and political speech under the First Amendment.

However, residents have some protections. For example, political canvassers cannot intimidate voters under these federal and Texas laws:

• 18 U.S. Code Section 241 and 594 
• Section 36.03 of the Texas Penal Code

How do I keep solicitors from knocking on my door? 

According to TML, some cities compile a "no solicitations" list that residents may sign. The city can make this list available to potential salespeople. If they ignore the list, the city could take measures against them. Contact your local officials or check their website for ordinances.

A resident could post a "no solicitors" sign, which can help deter door-to-door sales. Your city might have ordinances that require peddlers and solicitors to comply with the sign. However, political and religious canvassers are not soliciting and may choose to comply or not.

A "no trespassing" sign would give notice that entry to the property is forbidden without the resident’s consent. According to Section 30.05 of the Texas Penal Code, trespass occurs when a person:

• enters or remains on or in someone else’s property without their consent, AND 
• had notice that their entry was forbidden, or was told to leave but did not.

A sign serves as notice of trespass when it is posted on the property where it is reasonably likely to be seen.

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