La Grange Solicitors Must Be Licensed

LA GRANGE, IL – The La Grange Village Board on Monday was asked to approve two businesses for licenses for door-to-door solicitations.

That surprised Trustee Glenn Thompson, who took office in the spring and has attended meetings for a couple of years. He said he hears complaints about solicitors.

"We see solicitors come by my house all the time – for profit," Thompson told the board. "I've never seen a resolution coming before the board requesting approval to do that. Is this a requirement for the village? Should we start reminding people who are going door to door (without a license) not to?"

Village Manager Jack Knight said door-to-door solicitors must get licenses from the village. If a solicitor does not, a resident should call the police or send the person to Village Hall to get a license, Knight said.

At the meeting, the board approved Lombard-based AT&T Boost and Chicago-based Power Home Remodeling for 15 days each to go door to door. The exact periods have yet to be specified.

Now, three nonprofits – the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army and the La Grange Fire Department in conjunction with the Muscular Dystrophy Association – have licenses to go door to door at certain points during the fall.

A year ago, two companies – Power Home Remodeling and Orange Elephant Roofing & Solar – had licenses for certain periods to solicit. At the time, a trustee said she didn't think many companies got licenses before soliciting.

The village maintains a list on its website for which companies are allowed to solicit door to door.

Approved solicitors are allowed to knock on doors from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Residents can register on the village's website to join the no-solicitor list.