Like many Nashville residents, I believed that registering for the No Knock List and posting a No Soliciting sign would provide meaningful protection from unwanted door-to-door solicitation. That belief was challenged when a solicitor ignored my posted sign and refused to leave my property when asked.

What began as a personal frustration quickly became a much larger concern. Through public records requests and conversations with Metro, I discovered troubling gaps in how Nashville’s No Knock List is administered and enforced.

Since January 2024, Metro has received 470 solicitation-related complaints. That is approximately one complaint every other day for nearly two and a half years. Yet records show zero citations, zero fines, zero permit suspensions, and zero permit revocations related to solicitation violations during that same period.

The Metro Clerk’s Office also confirmed that No Knock List violations are not tracked separately, repeat offenders are not formally tracked, compliance is not verified after complaints are filed, and the office responsible for administering the program does not have authority to issue citations. Residents are encouraged to register for the No Knock List, post signs, gather evidence, and file complaints, but there is little transparency regarding what happens after those complaints are submitted.

This issue is about more than unwanted knocks on the door. It is about public safety, accountability, and trust in the systems residents are told to rely on. Women living alone, seniors, families, and other vulnerable residents deserve confidence that the protections being offered are meaningful and enforceable.

Residents are doing everything the city asks of them. They are registering for the No Knock List, posting signs, documenting violations, and filing complaints in good faith. The question is whether there is a meaningful system in place to respond to those complaints and hold violators accountable.

What We Are Requesting

We call on Metro Nashville to:

• Establish a clear and transparent enforcement process for No Knock List and No Soliciting sign violations.

• Implement formal tracking of complaints, repeat offenders, enforcement actions, and outcomes.

• Create meaningful consequences for repeated violations, including citations, fines, permit suspensions, and permit revocations when appropriate.

• Ensure the department responsible for administering the program has the authority and resources necessary to enforce it.

• Improve transparency by providing regular reporting on complaints, enforcement actions, and compliance efforts.

• Consider additional safeguards, including visible solicitor permits and reasonable restrictions on solicitation hours.

Nashville residents deserve more than the appearance of protection. They deserve a system that is transparent, accountable, and capable of delivering the protections it promises.

Please sign this petition to support stronger enforcement, greater transparency, and meaningful accountability for solicitation violations in Nashville.