4 min readFacts checked October 2026
Door-to-door sales visits are a fact of life in a lot of Valley neighborhoods. You can't stop every knock, but Phoenix has a clear rule about no-soliciting signs, and a few simple habits make your front door a less inviting stop.
What Phoenix's code says about signs
Phoenix City Code section 23-143 covers door-to-door soliciting. Under it, a solicitor has to leave right away after seeing a sign or notice that prohibits soliciting, and may not open or walk through a door or gate that has one. It also covers door-to-door visitors who weren't invited: they have to leave when asked. Phoenix treats a violation as a misdemeanor.
Rules for charities, religious groups and political canvassers can be different, so a sign won't stop every visit.
Other Valley cities
Each city sets its own rules, so check your city's code or ask its police non-emergency line. For example, the Town of Queen Creek prohibits peddling and door-to-door solicitation at homes that post a sign saying so.
Where to put your sign
A sign only works if a visitor sees it before they knock.
Sign placement
- At eye level, where the walkway reaches your entry
- On your entry gate, if you have one
- Large, plain wording: "No Soliciting"
- Not hidden behind plants, decorations or a screen door
We offer free printable no-soliciting signs. No email required.
What to do when someone knocks
You don't have to open the door to anyone you weren't expecting.
When an unexpected visitor knocks
- Talk through the door or a video doorbell instead of opening it
- Say "No thank you" and ask them to leave
- Don't sign anything or share personal details at the door
- If they won't leave, or anything feels wrong, call police
If a door-to-door contractor says your roof or yard needs urgent work, take a breath. Our No-Knock Guide covers how to check the claim before you decide anything.
A boundary before the door
Some homeowners go one step further and close off a recessed entry or porch with a gate a few feet in front of the door. Visitors stop at the gate instead of at your door, and a no-soliciting sign on the gate is the first thing they see. A gate is an added boundary, not a guarantee of security.
Is ignoring a no-soliciting sign illegal in Phoenix?
Phoenix City Code section 23-143 requires solicitors to leave after seeing a sign that prohibits soliciting, and not to open or pass through a door or gate that has one. Phoenix treats a violation as a misdemeanor.
Does a no-soliciting sign stop charities and political canvassers?
Not always. Rules for those groups can differ, so expect some visits even with a sign.
Where should a no-soliciting sign go?
Where visitors see it before they knock: at the start of the entry, or on an entry gate.
Sources
- Phoenix City Code, Chapter 23, Article XII, Door-to-Door Soliciting, sections 23-140 to 23-144 (Phoenix City Code)
- Phoenix Police Department, Info and tips: door to door solicitors
- Ahwatukee Foothills News, Residents reminded of new soliciting laws
- Town of Queen Creek, peddling and door-to-door solicitation notice