Current State Legislation deems it unconstitutional for a municipality to enforce a blanketed no-solicitation policy. Please see ( G.S. Chapter 160A, Article 8 (160A-174 et seq. and (G.S. 160A-178).
Therefore, the Town of Sims Board of Commissioners voted at the last meeting, Monday, October 13, 2025, to make changes to the Town of Sims Solicitation Ordinance effective immediately.
Changes to the Sims Town Ordinance include the following:
Section 62.02 Permit required-It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell, offer for sale, or solicit orders for goods, wares, merchandise, food, periodicals or services by going from door-to-door ("peddle" or "solicit") within the town without having first secured a peddler/solicitor's permit from the town as provided for in this section, unless it is done with the prior request or invitation of the residents or occupants of the premises visited. Each individual engaged in solicitation must be in possession of a permit, even those employed by the same company. Additionally, it is unlawful to peddle or solicit unless the following requirements are met:
1) Such peddling/soliciting shall be permitted only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. Peddling/solicitating shall not be permitted on Sundays or Holidays.
2) The peddler/solicitor permit issued for that person shall be carried and displayed at all times while conducting such solicitations in such a manner as to be clearly visible to a reasonable person of adequate vision.
3) All other permits or licenses required by law shall have been obtained.
Should you be visited by a peddler/solicitor, you are authorized to ask for their Town of Sims permit to be displayed. If they cannot present one, please direct them to Town Hall to obtain one. If you ask such peddler/solicitor to leave your home and they ignore the request or put up resistance, please call the Wilson County Sheriff's Office Emergency Line.
While peddling/soliciting town wide is not prohibited within the parameters of the Town Ordinance, it is unlawful for such to approach a home with intent to solicit when the property is clearly marked with a No Soliciting Sign. Incidents of this manner may be reported to the Wilson County Sheriff's Office Emergency Line.
The Town of Sims would like to provide citizens with a No Soliciting sticker to place in a high visibility location at their homes or place of business. Please look out for this sticker with your next billing statement. If you do not receive your billing statement with the enclosed sticker, you may visit Town Hall during normal business hours to request another.
To see full ordinance click here.