OVIEDO, Fla. – Residents in Oviedo say they are growing frustrated with frequent door-to-door sales pitches, especially from roofing companies following last week’s hailstorm.
Homeowners along Alafaya Woods Boulevard told News 6 they often receive knocks on their doors from salespeople, sometimes during dinner hours.
“A lot of times, it’s right at dinner time too, which to me makes it twice as bad,” resident Ken Luna said. “Come on, I’m trying to eat here.”
Luna said roofing companies were especially active after severe weather moved through the area last week.
“Roofers,” Luna said. “Like we had that nasty storm about a week ago. They were in here knocking on doors saying, ‘Hey, we just had this storm, can probably get you a new roof.’ And I’m like, I have a new roof. I don’t need a new roof.”
Despite reports from residents who say they saw several roofing companies going door-to-door after the storm, Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek said only one company — Power Home Remodeling — currently has a permit from the city to solicit door-to-door for roofing services.
“Aside from that one person, nobody has done the right thing yet,” Sladek said.
Under Florida law, businesses selling goods or services worth more than $25 are required to obtain a home solicitation sales permit in each county where they operate. Some cities, including Oviedo, also require an additional municipal permit.
City leaders said those permits require fingerprinting and background checks.
“We just don’t know if these are real genuine people who are able to help people,” Sladek said.
The mayor also encouraged residents to ask solicitors to show their permit before engaging with them.
“If you ask somebody to see their permit to solicit, they are supposed to carry it right there,” Sladek said. “ ‘Oh, my boss has it’ — not okay.”
There are some exemptions to solicitation permitting requirements, including nonprofit groups, schools and religious organizations.
City officials also reminded residents that solicitors are prohibited from ignoring “No Soliciting” signs, regardless of whether they have a permit.
Luna said that rule is often ignored.
“I’m a businessman. I kind of feel for these guys trying to make a living this way,” Luna said. “But still, I mean, come on. No soliciting means no soliciting.”
Sladek said residents who encounter solicitors unable to provide a permit are encouraged to report the interaction to the non-emergency line for the Oviedo Police Department at 407-971-5700. Fines start at $100 and go up to $500 in a 12 month period.