SOLICITATION

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 9, art. II, div. 4

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 9-71 Definitions.

Sec. 9-71. - Definitions. When used in this in this division, the following words, terms, and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Baggage claim area means any of the spaces designated for the disposition of baggage in each terminal facility. Commercial activity shall mean any activity undertaken for profit or direct monetary benefit, including the sale, advertisement, or display of goods or services. Distribute literature means to distribute any printed or written matter consisting of books, pamphlets, handbills, tracts, cards, circulars, pictures, films, magazines, or any other written matter for a philanthropic, religious, charitable, benevolent, humane, public interest, political, or similar eleemosynary purpose, nonprofit activity or non-commercial activity or purpose. Permittee means a person who engages in solicitation or distributes literature pursuant to a permit duly issued under this division. Person means only a natural person. Solicitation means the act of requesting or accepting money or other thing of value by a person for a philanthropic, religious, charitable, benevolent, humane, public interest, political, or similar eleemosynary purpose, nonprofit or non-commercial activity or purpose. This term shall not include activities intended to directly benefit the individual making the request, which shall be considered commercial activity as defined hereunder and regulated by section 9-161 et seq. of this Code and any other ordinances, laws, or rules regulating commercial activity at the airports. (Ord. No. 02-1184, § 1(Exh. A), 12-18-02)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 9-72 Regulated activities.

Sec. 9-72. - Regulated activities. (a) Any person who desires to engage in solicitation or distribute literature at any city airport shall first file an application with the director on a form prescribed by the director during regular business hours at the office of the director or at such other place prescribed by the director. (b) Upon receipt of an application containing the information required by the director and upon the payment of such fees as the director may uniformly prescribe to defray administrative expenses, if there is space available in the airport facility in which the applicant wishes to engage in solicitation or distribute literature, the director shall issue a permit to the applicant. (c) Upon issuance of a permit by the director, the permittee shall be entitled to engage in solicitation or distribute literature for a period of not more than seven consecutive days. A new application must be completed and submitted to the director prior to each seven-day period or portion thereof during which a person desires to engage in the activities regulated hereunder. (d) Upon issuance of a permit, the permittee shall be entitled to engage in solicitation or distribute literature from within, and not from without, certain solicitation booths or areas to be designated by the director (e) It is the intent of the city council that the director exercise no judgment regarding the purpose or content of the proposed activity and exercise no discretion over the allocation of available booth space or designated areas, except as provided in this section. The allocation of available booth space or designated areas hereunder by the director shall be a routine clerical and mandatory function. The director shall utilize a first-come-first-served basis for allocating the booths or designated areas. In the event that two or more applicants seek to conduct the activities regulated herein in the same booth or designated area at the same time, the director shall apportion the available booth space or designated area between or among permittees on an as equitable basis as possible. (f) The permittee shall conspicuously display his permit in the booths or designated areas at all times while engaging in solicitation or distributing literature. (Ord. No. 02-1184, § 1(Exh. A), 12-18-02)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 9-73 Prohibited activities.

Sec. 9-73. - Prohibited activities. It shall be unlawful for any person who is engaging in solicitation or distributing literature described under this division to: (1) Intentionally or knowingly cause physical, expressive, or verbal contact with another person when permittee knows or should reasonably believe that the other person will regard the contact as offensive; (2) In any way obstruct, delay, or interfere with the free movement of any other person or seek to annoy, coerce, or disturb any other person; (3) Engage in solicitation or distribute literature outside a solicitation booth or designated area provided for under this division; (4) Engage in solicitation or distribute literature without first filing an application and obtaining a permit as required under this division; (5) Misrepresent whether any printed matter is available without cost or donation; (6) Make any loud or raucous noise, verbalization, communication, or disturbance that interferes with: the public, the ability of others to hear public announcements, the transaction of business by any airline or other airport tenant, concessionaire, licensee, or permittee; (7) Drape or attach any materials to any booth or in any designated area; (8) Alter a permit issued by the director; (9) Engage in solicitation or distribute literature while displaying a permit issued in the name of another person; (10) Engage in solicitation or distribute literature in a booth or designated area after the expiration of any permit issued under this division; (11) Engage in solicitation or distribute literature for a purpose other than that set out in the application upon which the permit was issued; or (12) Misrepresent permittee's identity, purposes, or affiliations to any person at the airports; or (13) Represent in connection with the solicitation or distribution of literature that the issuance of a permit by the director constitutes an endorsement or approval of the purposes of such activities by the city or any officer or employee thereof. (Ord. No. 02-1184, § 1(Exh. A), 12-18-02)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH9AV_ARTIILAARRE_DIV4SOFetched: 10/26/2026