BEE CAVE, Texas (KXAN) — Bee Cave City Council voted last week to update the city’s solicitation ordinance, including changes banning door-to-door solicitations after dark.
Under the updated ordinance, solicitation permits will now be handled under Bee Cave’s Planning and Development Department, as opposed to the Bee Cave Police Department.
The approved changes include:
- Ability to run background checks on solicitors via the Bee Cave Planning and Development Department, instead of police.
- Refusal of issuance of solicitation permits if certain criminal offenses and some other offenses are detected in the applicant.
- Opportunity to revoke a solicitation permit if a set number of valid complaints are received; if the solicitor receives more than three valid complaints in a given timespan, their permit will be revoked.
- Requirement that permit and identification of solicitor be presented if requested by a homeowner, police officer or official.
For solicitations after hours or those involving safety concerns, city officials advised residents call the Bee Cave Police Department’s non-emergency line at 512-767-6650. During the daytime, the recommendation is residents call the Planning and Development Department at 512-767-6675.
These changes come amid what Bee Cave Mayor Kara King and other council members called an excessive uptick in solicitors at all hours. King noted her neighborhood has seen an influx of repeat solicitors, with many of them not permitted.
“I’m glad we’re codifying this because it’s kind of out of control, honestly, where they can cover a lot of grown with the houses closer together. It’s excessive,” she said.
Residents looking to avoid solicitors are required to post a no solicitations sign on their property, such as on a fence or in their yard. According to city officials, solicitors who approach property owners with these signs can be arrested.
The updated ordinance applies to business solicitations, such as those selling lawn care services or solar panels. Different laws are in effect for political canvassing or religious-based solicitations.
More details on Bee Cave’s updated changes are outlined online.
Bee Cave isn’t the only local city codifying an after-dark ban on solicitations. A City of Austin spokesperson confirmed with KXAN Tuesday people are prohibited from soliciting between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. by going door-to-door to residences.