Nextdoor was created to strengthen local communities by connecting neighbors with one another. For years, it has also provided a valuable way for residents to discover trusted local businesses and for small business owners to serve the neighborhoods where they live and work.

Recent changes to Nextdoor's guidelines regarding self-promotion, commenting on posts, and direct messaging have made it much more difficult for legitimate local businesses to connect with neighbors who are actively looking for services. While we support reasonable efforts to reduce spam and abusive behavior, the current restrictions have gone beyond preventing spam and are limiting genuine, helpful interactions within our communities.

These changes affect more than business owners. Neighbors also lose the opportunity to hear directly from local professionals, compare options, ask questions, and discover businesses they may never have found otherwise. A platform built around local connections should encourage respectful community engagement—not make it harder for neighbors and local businesses to communicate.

Many small businesses depend on Nextdoor as an affordable way to reach customers in their own communities. Restricting thoughtful participation can reduce visibility for honest businesses while making it more difficult for residents to find local services they need.

We respectfully ask Nextdoor to review and revise these guidelines by:

• Allowing respectful business participation in relevant neighborhood discussions.
• Permitting reasonable self-promotion that is clearly identified and does not overwhelm the community.
• Allowing business owners to respond to neighbors who are actively seeking recommendations or services.
• Creating clear distinctions between spam and genuine community engagement.
• Working with the community to develop policies that support both neighborhood conversations and local small businesses.

We believe Nextdoor can maintain a positive community while also supporting the local businesses that help neighborhoods thrive. We urge Nextdoor to reconsider these restrictions and adopt a more balanced approach that benefits neighbors, small business owners, and the communities they serve.

If you believe local businesses should have a fair opportunity to connect with their neighbors in respectful and meaningful ways, please sign this petition and share it with others who support strong local communities.