TOWN OF IRMO CODE OF ORDINANCE
Chapter 24 - PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS
Sec. 24-1. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Peddling, soliciting and vending means the practice of entering or being upon any private residence; private property; public street; public place or vacant lot, or by traveling from place to place in the town by solicitors, peddlers, hawkers, itinerant merchants, and transient vendors, not having been requested or invited to do so by the owners or occupants, for the purpose of selling, offering for sale, or taking orders for or soliciting the sale of any goods, ware, merchandise, or other personal property, or for peddling or hawking the same, including sales by sample and the taking or soliciting of orders for future delivery of photographs, portraits, prints, pictures, magazines, clothing, fixtures, machines, appliances, and all other articles or things to be made, produced, combined or manufactured.
Sec. 24-2. - Prohibited generally.
Peddling, soliciting, panhandling and vending are prohibited.
Sec. 24-3. - Exemptions.
A. The provisions of this section shall not apply to peddlers working for specific events sponsored or operated by local civic organizations that provides services and/or events of benefit to all citizens of the town, any eleemosynary organizations, schools and peddlers complying with the requirements listed as follows:
- The business must have a registered agent in Richland County or Lexington County, or the representative must be a legal resident of the town.
- Each peddler must wear picture identification and carry proof of proper licensing by the town.
- Provide to the town copies of picture identifications of all peddlers working for the business.
- The business must provide to the town a background check, at its own costs, of all peddlers that will be working in the town. The background check must be provided by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and show no conviction for a crime of moral turpitude; no conviction for a crime against property and no conviction for any crime of violence or drugs. The town will further check the South Carolina Sexual Registry. Any person whose name appears on the South Carolina Sexual Registry or who for a period less than ten years has been convicted of one of the crimes enumerated above shall be denied the right to act as a peddler or solicitor in the town. These background checks must have been performed within 30 days of applying for a peddler's license.
- Peddlers must be covered by a $500,000.00 liability insurance policy issued to their business or acquire itinerant vendor bonds in the amount of $2,500.00 for each peddler operating within town limits. They will be required to show proof of either.
- Peddlers shall not enter or be upon any private or public property where a no solicitation sign has been posted.
- Peddlers must also pay appropriate business license fees.
- Peddlers shall only solicit between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
B. This section shall also not apply to nonprofit organizations soliciting for donations, contributions or for the sale of goods, wares or merchandise for those persons that belong to or are acting on behalf of nonprofit organizations engaged in business for solely religious, charitable, eleemosynary or other types of strictly nonprofit purposes, and which are tax exempt under the laws of the United States or the state. Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit the sale of newspapers.
C. No person or organization meeting the exempt requirements shall in any event approach the occupant of any vehicle for the purpose of soliciting employment, business, contributions or the sale or distribution of any article. It is specifically provided, however, that a person or organization meeting the exempt requirement shall be allowed to approach the occupant of a vehicle on private property for the purpose of soliciting employment, business, contributions, or distribution of any article if such person or organization has in its possession a document signed by the owner of the property authorizing such conduct upon the owner's property.