Chapter 111 of the Lincoln County Code of Ordinances was recently amended by the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Chapter 111, which deals with soliciting and peddling laws, was repealed and replaced with a new ordinance to clarify certain definitions and tighten current regulations. There are three key changes worth noting:
- Permitting System: The county now requires all peddlers and solicitors to obtain a permit 15 days before beginning their respective activities. To obtain the permit, which is valid for one year unless revoked, one would need to contact the County Manager’s Office. Failure to obtain a permit would be considered a class 3 misdemeanor along with a $250 fine per violation. However, permits cannot be issued and thereby cannot be required until January 1, 2026 as the County Manager’s Office needs time to orient themselves to the new procedure.
- Stronger Enforcement and Penalties: The amendment lays out clear criminal penalties and defines the conditions under which a solicitor or peddler’s permit can be revoked.
- Expanded and Clarified Restrictions: Lincoln County has deemed certain areas illegal to solicit or pedal in, examples being near ATMs, restaurants, and government buildings. Additionally, the amendment defines what illegal soliciting and peddling looks like according to the new ordinance.
Although changes were made from the prior ordinance, the amendment is strictly policy neutral and does not change the rights Lincoln County citizens currently have. Instead it seeks to define them in a clear and concise way. When giving a reason for the amendment, Megan Gilbert, the County Attorney, remarked that the old ordinance was “outdated” and “needed to be updated.” The amendment will not go into effect until the county commissioners pass it at the next meeting; it could not be passed when first introduced because it contains criminal penalties.
The amendment can be read here: Ordinance-to-Amend-Ch-111
