Resident Information
May 15 - Due to the City Hall Closure the City of Mercer Island is not issuing solicitors licenses until further notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, violators of the ordinance can be assessed a monetary penalty of $124.
Yes, the City’s ordinance requires solicitors to obtain a license.
To verify if a charity or fundraiser is registered with the state and to get further information about the organization’s financial and charitable activities, you may contact the Washington Secretary of State Charities Program at 1-800-332-4483, or online at www.sos.wa.gov/charities.
You can post a "No Peddlers" or “No Solicitors” sign that is clearly visible at your home. Solicitors who then approach your door after seeing the sign are violating the ordinance; you can call the Mercer Island Police Department’s non-emergency number at 425-577-5656 or, if necessary, call 911.
Each person is issued a license from the City Clerk’s Office. Solicitors must carry their license at all times when soliciting and must display their license upon request (see second FAQ above). If the solicitor cannot produce a license, you can call the Mercer Island Police Department’s non-emergency number at 425-577-5656.
- If a solicitor comes to your door, ask to see his or her soliciting license and printed materials regarding their organization.
- Contact the beneficiaries of the charitable funds to determine if they are aware of the solicitation and have authorized use of their name.
- Ask how the donations are used.
- Don't give in to high-pressure "hardball" solicitations that demand an instant commitment.
- If the organization is legitimate, it should be willing to give you time to make up your mind. Be wary of solicitors that offer to send a courier to collect your money immediately.
Solicitors are allowed to solicit between the hours of 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM. If someone comes before 10:00 AM or after 9:00 PM, you can call the Mercer Island Police Department’s non-emergency number at 425-577-5656 to report him or her.
Licenses are issued by the City of Mercer Island City Clerk’s Office. Each solicitor must have a license issued by the City Clerk’s Office. The license is the approved application form with a City official’s initials and the official corporate seal of the City of Mercer Island in the bottom right corner.
Contact Information
Follow this link for the latest facility and program information.
City Clerk's Office
9611 SE 36th Street
Mercer Island, WA 98040
Phone: (206) 275-7793
E-mail: cityclerk@mercerisland.gov