Village of Godfrey adopts a ‘Do Not Knock’ registry

By Managing Editor | April 11, 2025 |

All persons, businesses and organizations wishing to solicit in the Village of Godfrey sale of goods/services immediately or in the future; delivery of hand-bill/activity/goods or services; canvassing and pamphleteering are required obtain a transient merchant license.

Upon license approval, commercial solicitors will be issued permanent ID cards and will be required to keep them displayed at all times. Noncommercial and charitable organizations are not required to obtain a license.

Recently the Village of Godfrey also adopted a transient merchant ‘Do Not Knock’ registry for addresses within the municipality. The Do Not Knock Registry works similarly to a “Do Not Call” list; it prohibits solicitation at registered addresses. All solicitors are prohibited from soliciting at any location listed on the Do Not Knock Registry or visit any location with a sign posted prohibiting solicitation.

Village of Godfrey Ordinance 14-2025 requires all solicitors to obtain a current Do Not Knock Registry list upon approval of a transient merchant license. For residents’ protection, only addresses will appear on the Do Not Knock Registry’s listings. Since religious organizations, youth fundraising, and political advertisement are exempt from obtaining a transient merchant license within the Village of Godfrey, the registry does not apply to them and their activities.

Residents wishing to be added to the list should complete the Application Form available at www.godfreyil.org and bring or mail it to the Godfrey Village Clerk’s Office. If mailing, the address is:

Village of Godfrey
Attn: Susan Robbins, Village Clerk
6810 Godfrey Rd.
Godfrey, IL 62035

Registrations become effective on the first day of the month. All transient merchants will be provided with an updated list at the start of the month.

To report a violation of the ‘Do Not Knock’ registry, call the Madison County Sheriff’s Department at (618) 692-4433.

Violations shall subject the licensee, solicitor, peddler or canvasser and/or their corporate entity to revocation of the license issued by the Village, denial of future license applications, a fine of not less than $125 nor more than $750 per occurrence, and potential additional civil or criminal penalties.

For questions or more information regarding the Do Not Knock Registry, call the Godfrey Village Clerk’s office at (618) 466-3381.

(Source: April 2025 issue of The Villager, the monthly newsletter published by the Village of Godfrey.)