CHARITABLE SOLICITATIONS

Columbus City Codes tit. 5, ch. 525

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 525.01 Definitions.

525.01 - Definitions. For the purposes of enforcing this chapter, the following words are defined and shall have the meaning ascribed to them as hereafter set forth unless the context clearly requires a different meaning: (A) "Charitable" means any benevolent, philanthropic, patriotic, or educational purpose. (B) "Cost of solicitation" means all costs incurred in raising the funds solicited. The "cost of solicitation" shall include any compensation, in whatever form, paid to a "professional fundraiser" or "professional solicitor." The cost of solicitation shall not include: (1) where a show, benefit, dance, bazaar, raffle, sporting or social event, or other similar event is held nor the cost of giving or holding such a show or event; (2) the cost of making or acquiring a publication which is sold for, or has space sold for charitable purposes; (3) where goods or commodities are sold; the cost of making or acquiring such goods or commodities. (C) "Contribution" means the promise or grant of any money or property of any kind or value. (D) "Person" shall mean any individual, organization, firm, partnership, company, corporation, association, joint stock association, society, organization or league, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, agent or other similar representative. (E) "Professional fundraiser" means any person who, for compensation, plans, conducts, manages, or carries on any drive or campaign in this city for the purpose of soliciting contributions for or on behalf of any charitable organization, or who engages in the business of or who represents themselves to persons in this city as independently engaged in the business of soliciting contributions for charitable purposes. A bona fide officer or employee of a charitable organization shall not be deemed a professional fundraiser. (F) "Solicit" and "solicitations" shall mean the request, either directly or indirectly, for money or financial assistance on the plea or representation that such money or financial assistance will be used for a charitable purpose. A "solicitation" as defined herein, shall be deemed completed when made, whether or not any contribution is received or sale is made. (G) "Fundraising counsel" means any person who plans, manages, advises, consults, or prepares material for compensation with respect to solicitation in Columbus for any charitable organization. It shall also mean any person(s) who at any time has custody of contributions from a solicitation, but does not solicit contributions and does not employ, procure, or otherwise engage any compensated person to solicit contributions. "Fundraising counsel" does not include the following: (1) An attorney, investment counselor, or banker who in the conduct of his profession advises a client; (2) A charitable organization or a bona fide officer, employee, or volunteer of a charitable organization, who has full knowledge of the services being performed on its behalf and either of the following applies: (a) The services performed by the charitable organization, bona fide officer, employee, or volunteer are performed on behalf of the organization that employs the bona fide officer or employee or engages the services of the bona fide volunteer; (b) The charitable organization on whose behalf the services are performed shares some element of common control or an historic or continuing relationship with the charitable organization that performs the services or employs the bona fide officer or employee or engages the services of the bona fide volunteer; (2) An employee who is not engaged in the business of soliciting contributions or conducting charitable sales promotions, but who incidentally solicits contributions for a charitable organization or purpose without compensation; (3) A compensated employee of an employer who is not engaged in the business of soliciting contributions or conducting charitable sales promotions, when the employee solicits contributions or conducts charitable sales promotions at the direction of their employer. (H) "Professional solicitor" means any person who, for compensation, performs on behalf of or for the benefit of a charitable organization any service in connection with which contributions are or will be solicited in this state by the compensated person or by any person it employs, procures, or otherwise engages directly or indirectly to solicit contributions. "Professional solicitor" does not include the following: (1) An attorney, investment counselor, or banker who in the conduct of that profession advises a client; (2) A charitable organization or a bona fide officer, employee, or volunteer of a charitable organization, when the charitable organization has full knowledge of the services being performed on its behalf and either of the following applies: (a) The services performed by the charitable organization, bona fide officer, employee, or volunteer are performed on behalf of the charitable organization that employs the bona fide officer or employee or engages the services of the bona fide volunteer; (b) The charitable organization on whose behalf the services are performed shares some element of common control or an historic or continuing relationship with the charitable organization that performs the services or employs the bona fide officer or employee or engages the services of the bona fide volunteer; (3) An employee who is not engaged in the business of soliciting contributions or conducting charitable sales promotions but who incidentally solicits contributions for a charitable organization or purpose without compensation; (4) A compensated employee of an employer who is not engaged in the business of soliciting contributions or conducting charitable sales promotions, when the employee solicits contributions or conducts charitable sales promotions at the direction of their employer. (5) "Fundraising counsel" as defined in division (G). (I) "Distribution" has the same meaning as defined in CCC Sec. 2333.01(F). (J) "Director" shall mean the Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services, or their designee. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 2043-2018, § 1, 7-23-2018; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.02 Charitable solicitations permit required.

525.02 - Charitable solicitations permit required. No person shall solicit contributions for any charitable purpose from any person located within the city unless the person for whose benefit the solicitation is conducted has obtained a permit from the Director. An application for a permit to solicit for charitable purposes shall be made on forms prescribed and provided by the city. Such application shall be sworn to and filed at least thirty (30) days prior to the time of the contemplated use of the permit. Provided, however, for good cause shown, the Director may accept an application for a permit less than thirty (30) days before its intended use. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.03 Exceptions.

525.03 - Exceptions. Section 525.02 of the code shall not be applicable in the case of solicitations made: (a) By any bona fide, publicly recognized evangelical, missionary, or religious organization or charities, agencies, or organizations operated, supervised, or controlled by such organizations; (b) By any college, university or school accredited by a regional accrediting association such as the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or approved by the Department of Education of the state of Ohio, or person acting under the auspices of such colleges, universities or schools; (c) By any organization where the solicitation is made solely from the membership of said organization; (d) By any person requesting contributions for the relief of any individual or family, specified by name at the time of the solicitation, if all of the contributions collected, without any deductions whatsoever, are turned over to the named beneficiary; (e) By any person, when contemplated gross contributions of a fund solicitation will not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) in any one year, provided however that if gross contributions of such a fund solicitation exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), the information required by the provisions of Section 525.06 shall forthwith be filed. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.04 Parent organization.

525.04 - Parent organization. In instances where local subordinate units operate through a local parent organization, such as Wings, Twigs, Cancer Rays, Guilds, etc. (the words, "Wings", "Twigs", "Rays", "Guilds", etc. are merely descriptive and not intended to be all-inclusive) and conduct charitable solicitation drives, which would not be regarded as community-wide in scope, the permit obtained by the parent organization will be sufficient to cover both the parent organization and subordinate organization with no need to issue individual permits to the local subordinate units. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.05 Form of application.

525.05 - Form of application. The application herein required shall contain the following information, where and if applicable, or in lieu thereof, a detailed statement of the reason or reasons why such information cannot be furnished: (A) The name, address, email and phone number of headquarters of the person applying for the permit; (B) The purpose or purposes for which such solicitation is to be made, the total amount of funds proposed to be raised thereby, the use or disposition to be made of any receipts therefrom, and provision made for the return of funds if the funds cannot be used for the purpose stated; (C) The name and address of the person or persons who will be in direct charge of conducting the solicitation or solicitations and the names of all promoters connected or to be connected with the proposed solicitation or solicitations; (D) An outline of the method or methods to be used in conducting the solicitations; (E) The time when such solicitations shall be made, giving the preferred dates for the beginning and ending of each solicitation; (F) The estimated cost of each solicitation; (G) A financial statement for the last preceding fiscal year of any funds collected for charitable purposes by the applicant, said statement giving the amount of money so raised, together with the cost of raising it, and final distribution thereof; (H) A statement to the effect that if a permit is granted, it will not be used or represented in any way as an endorsement by the City of Columbus or by any department or officer thereof; (I) Such other information as may be reasonably required by the Director in order to determine the kind and character of the proposed solicitation and whether such solicitation is in the interest of, and not inimical to, the public welfare; (J) The amount of the cost of solicitation as a percentage of the gross receipts to be realized by each solicitation. If, while any application is pending, or during the term of any permit granted thereon, there is any material change in fact, policy, or method that would alter the information given in the application, the applicant shall notify the Director in writing thereof within seven (7) days after such change. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.06 Fee.

525.06 - Fee. The application for a permit shall be accompanied by a fee of forty dollars ($40.00) which said fee shall be returned by the city if the permit is denied. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 525.07 Investigation.

525.07 - Investigation. The board shall examine all applications filed under C.C. 525.05 and shall make, or cause to be made, further investigation of the application and the applicant as necessary. Upon request, the applicant shall make available for inspection all of the applicant's books, records and papers at any reasonable time before the application is granted, during the time a permit is in effect, or after a permit has expired. The Director may require a person claiming to be exempt from the provisions of this chapter to present evidence to substantiate its claim of exemption. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.08 Issuance of permit.

525.08 - Issuance of permit. The Director may refuse to authorize the issuance of a permit for any and all of the following: (A) That any of the statements made in the application are false; (B) That the applicant has engaged in a fraudulent transaction or enterprise; (C) That the solicitation or solicitations will be a fraud on the public; (D) That the applicant or any professional fundraiser employed by the applicant has violated any provision of this chapter within two (2) years prior to the date of the application; (E) That the applicant or any professional fundraiser employed by the applicant has been convicted of any theft offense within two (2) years prior to the date of the application; (F) That the applicant or any professional fundraiser employed by the applicant has not registered as required by Chapter 1716 of the Ohio Revised Code; If section (E) applies, the applicant shall be permitted to submit a written explanation to the Director to explain why the theft convictions will not affect the applicant's abilities to carry out the charitable purposes of its organization. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.10 Appeal from decision denying permit.

525.10 - Appeal from decision denying permit. If the Director denies an application, the Director shall notify the applicant of the decision and the grounds for denial by certified mail. Within five (5) days after the receipt of such notification, the applicant may file a written request for an appeal together with exceptions to the grounds for which the denial of the application was based upon, to the charitable solicitations board of review. The board of review shall be composed of the director of finance and management or their designee, the city treasurer or their designee, and the city auditor or their designee. Upon the filing of such request, the charitable solicitations board of review shall fix a time and place for the hearing, which shall take place within seven (7) days after the request is filed. At the hearing, the applicant may present evidence in support of their application and exceptions. Any interested person may be allowed to participate in the hearing to present evidence. Within five (5) days after the conclusion of the hearing, the charitable solicitations board of review shall render a written report either granting or denying the application for a permit. In its report, the charitable solicitations board of review shall state the grounds upon which its decision is based. The report shall be filed in the Director's office for public inspection and a copy shall be sent by mail to the applicant. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.11 Information on permit; term; renewal.

525.11 - Information on permit; term; renewal. Permits issued under this chapter shall bear the name of the person(s) for whose benefit the solicitation(s) are to be made, the number of the permit, the date issued, the date the permit expires, and a statement that the permit does not constitute an endorsement by the City of Columbus or by any of its departments, officers, or employees for the purpose of conducting the solicitation. Permit holders whose permit to solicit is about to expire may apply for a renewal permit at least thirty (30) days in advance of the current permit's date of expiration or a shorter amount of time with approval of the Director for good cause shown. A renewal permit shall begin on the date of expiration of the old permit. Permits issued shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance. Any other permits issued shall be valid only from the date of issuance until the date of expiration mandated by this section for each permit holder. The standards established in this chapter shall serve as guidance to the Director in issuing permits. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.12 Permit nontransferable; return upon expiration.

525.12 - Permit nontransferable; return upon expiration. Any permit issued under this chapter shall be nontransferable and shall be returned to the Director within seven (7) days of its date of suspension or revocation together with all copies thereof. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.13 Agents and solicitors for permit holders.

525.13 - Agents and solicitors for permit holders. Before any agent or solicitor for a permit holder may solicit funds, they must first obtain, or be provided by the permit holder, an information card, or envelope, or some other evidence of identification, acceptable to the Director, which must be exhibited upon request when a solicitation is made. Such form of identification shall include information as follows: (A) The name of the permit holder; (B) A description of the purpose of the solicitation; (C) The name of the agent or solicitor. No agent or solicitor shall solicit contributions for any charitable purpose from any person located within the city unless such agent or solicitor has first received said form of identification. (D) No such form of identification shall be required when in-plant or in-office solicitations are made among employees for a purpose authorized by an employer. (E) The Director shall have the authority to waive all conditions of this chapter when a campaign or drive for raising funds for any charitable purpose is given general publicity through the press or otherwise, and when more than fifty (50) persons serve as solicitors without compensation, if it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Director that the publicity concerning the solicitation fully informs the general public and the persons to be solicited as to the facts regarding such campaign. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.14 Written receipt required.

525.14 - Written receipt required. No person shall solicit any contribution for any charitable purpose unless they are prepared to tender a written receipt signed by the solicitor which contains, in addition to a description of the amount and kind of the contribution, the following: (A) The name of the charity, if any, in whose name or upon whose behalf the solicitation is made; (B) A statement as to whether the contribution solicited is to be applied for the general purposes of such association, if any, or for specific purposes. If for specific purposes the nature thereof shall be clearly stated; (C) A statement that identification was presented to the person making the contribution prior to receipt. No receipt need be given or tendered if donation is made in a sealed envelope or a locked receptacle previously approved by the Director, so that either the amount donated or the name of the donor is unknown, or if the amount donated is less than or equal to one dollar ($1.00). No person shall solicit any charitable contribution, for any real or purported charitable purpose, by means of any box or receptacle in any place immediately abutting upon any public sidewalk or way, or in any place of business, room, hallway, corridor, lobby, entranceway, or resort open to or accessible to the public, except by the express written permission of the Director, and a permit has been first issued for charitable solicitations in this manner. Every person so soliciting must comply with the provisions of this chapter. No person under the age of fourteen (14) years shall solicit any contribution for any charitable purpose between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a person of the age of sixteen (16) years or more. Such person accompanying persons under the age of fourteen (14) years shall have an identification card as provided in this chapter. (Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.15 Solicitation by radio, television, telephone, social media, telegraph, mail, email, and electronic or written material.

525.15 - Solicitation by radio, television, telephone, social media, telegraph, mail, email, and electronic or written material. No person shall solicit any contributions by mail, email or any other written or electronically published article, or over radio, television, telephone or telegraph unless such solicitation shall contain the name of the permit holder in whose name the solicitation is being made, the name of the person making the solicitation, if different from the permit holder, and a description of the purposes which the contribution being solicited will be put. When any solicitation is made by telephone, the solicitor shall, upon request, provide a copy of the information required by C.C. 525.13 prior to accepting a contribution from every person who indicates a willingness to contribute. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 525.16 Fraudulent solicitations.

525.16 - Fraudulent solicitations. (A) No person, agent or solicitor shall make or perpetrate any misstatement, deception or fraud in connection with any solicitation of any contribution for any charitable purpose. (B) No person having entered into an agreement to conduct charitable solicitation on behalf ofany person for any charitable purpose shall fail to remit or pay to the party entitled thereto the proceeds of such solicitation in accordance with the true terms of the agreement. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017)

Columbus City Codes § 525.17 Revocation of permits.

525.17 - Revocation of permits. Whenever the Director has cause to believe that any person(s) licensed under this chapter has violated any of the provisions of this chapter by misrepresenting the purpose of the solicitation, the Director shall give the permit holder written notice of a hearing which must be held within seven (7) days of the notification to determine whether or not the permit should be revoked. This notice must contain a statement of the facts upon which the Director proposes to suspend or revoke the permit. If, after such hearing, the Director finds that this chapter has been violated or the purpose of the solicitation has been misrepresented, the permit holder and all interested persons participating in the hearing shall be notified within two (2) days with a written statement of the facts, and the Director shall immediately revoke or suspend the permit, notify the public, and advise those affected to their right of appeal in the same manner as provided for in C.C. 525.10. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.18 Notice of suspension or revocation of permit to chief of police.

525.18 - Notice of suspension or revocation of permit to chief of police. The chief of police shall be notified by the Director of the suspension or revocation of any permit issued under this chapter. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.19 Books and records of permit holders.

525.19 - Books and records of permit holders. No person shall solicit any contribution for any charitable purpose without maintaining a system of accounting, approved by the Director, whereby all donations to it and all disbursements are entered upon the books or records. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.20 Report required from permit holder.

525.20 - Report required from permit holder. It shall be the duty of all persons issued permits under this chapter to provide yearly, at the time of their renewal, a detailed report and financial statement showing the amount of funds raised, the amount expended in collecting such funds, including any and all compensation paid to any professional fundraiser(s), and the disposition of the balance of the funds collected during the preceding (fiscal) year. If compliance with the provisions of this section is impractical, then a report for the last available (fiscal) year showing the same estimated amounts shall be submitted. This report shall be available to the Director for such purpose, all books, records, and papers whereby the accuracy of the report may be checked. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.21 Professional fundraisers.

525.21 - Professional fundraisers. (A) License Required. No professional fundraiser shall, in any manner whatsoever, solicit persons located in the city for any contributions for any actual or purported charitable purpose without first obtaining a license from the Director to do so. (B) Application. To obtain such license, such professional fundraiser shall make and file an application in writing including but not limited to such information as may be required by the Director: (1) The name and address of the applicant, and if a corporation, the name and address of each of its managing officers and agents and, if it be an unincorporated association, firm or partnership, the name and address of each member of such unincorporated association, firm or partnership; (2) Any theft offenses the applicant or its officers have been convicted of in the last five (5) years; (3) The general plan, character, and method in or by which applicant proposes to conduct its or their business as a professional fundraiser; (4) A complete financial statement of the applicant for the applicant's last year of operations; (5) A copy of the contract under which the applicant will be soliciting contributions for the charitable organization(s) employing it. (C) Bond. (1) At the time of filing an application for license with the Director, the applicant shall file with the City and thereafter maintain a good and sufficient license and permit bond in the aggregate sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for the use and benefit of interested persons and parties. The bond must be executed by the applicant and by two (2) or more responsible sureties, or a surety company authorized to do business in the State of Ohio. The total aggregate liability shall be limited to the payment of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), and shall be conditioned upon strict compliance with the provisions of this section. Payment of any direct financial loss sustained through any act of grand or petty theft on the part of the principal, any donor or by any person on whose behalf the funds or personal property were solicited or received. (2) The bond shall remain in effect for the entire period of the license. The sureties may cancel said bond and be relieved of further liability by delivering thirty (30) days written notice to the Director. Such cancellation shall not affect any liability incurred or accrued prior to the termination of the thirty (30) day period. (3) Any person who sustains any injury covered by the bond may bring an action in their own name against the bond for the recovery of any damages incurred. (4) Upon such action being commenced, such bond shall not be void after the first recovery, but may be sued upon until the whole of such penalty is exhausted. The Director may require the filing of a new bond, and upon failure to file within ten (10) days, the Director shall suspend the license to solicit. (5) The time which any action may be brought against a bond shall be limited to a period of two (2) years from or after the discovery of the act or default complaint. (D) Fee. For the filing of such application the applicant shall pay a fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) to the Director. (E) The Director shall examine such application and may conduct further investigation of the applicant if needed. The Director shall authorize their designee to issue a license to solicit as a professional fundraiser within the city, to every person or organization that complies with the provisions of this section except if any of the following is found to be true: (1) The applicant has insufficient financial responsibility to carry out the obligations incident to any solicitation such applicant may make to persons located within the city as a professional fundraiser; (2) Statements made in the application are false; (3) The applicant or its officers, agents or members have violated any provisions of this section or engaged any fraudulent transaction; (4) That the applicant's planned solicitation would act as a fraud upon the public; (5) That the applicant is not registered with the state under the provisions of Chapter 1716 of the Ohio Revised Code. If the Director refuses to issue a license to such applicant, the Director shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for such refusal and the right to appeal the decision pursuant to section 525.10. (F) Revocation. The Director may revoke the license of any professional fundraiser issued under this section if, after a hearing, it is found that the professional fundraiser or any agents or professional solicitors employed by the professional fundraiser have violated any provision of Chapter 525. The Director shall notify the professional fundraiser in writing of the reasons for such revocation. Upon notice of such revocation the professional fundraiser and their employees and agents shall cease soliciting contributions from persons located within the city. A professional fundraiser may appeal the revocation as provided for in section 525.10. (G) Termination. Every such license shall terminate or expire on December 31 st of the year of issuance. (H) Funds. No professional fundraiser shall commingle any contributions with the professional fundraiser's own funds or property, or fail at any time to maintain and keep all contributions separate and apart from the professional fundraiser's own funds or property. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.22 Severability clause.

525.22 - Severability clause. If any portion of this chapter, or any section or part of a section is declared to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such declaration of invalidity shall be limited to that portion, section, or part of a section declared invalid. Any such declaration of invalidity shall not affect or impair the remainder of the chapter, and to this end the objectionable provisions are severable. (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.23 Reserved.

Columbus City Codes § 525.24 Permit to engage in not for profit distribution in the roadway.

525.24 - Permit to engage in not for profit distribution in the roadway. (A) The Director shall issue a permit to engage in not for profit distribution on a street, alley, highway or roadway with the driver or occupants of a vehicle when all requirements of paragraph (B) of this section have been met. There shall be no charge for permits issued under this section. (B) An individual or organization may apply for and obtain a permit to engage in not for profit distribution in the street, alley, highway or roadway, but not on a freeway as provided in Section 4511.051(A), Ohio Revised Code, when a permit is issued by the Director as follows: (1) The Director shall approve a form and receive applications to engage in not for profit distribution on a street, alley, highway or roadway, and shall adopt rules and regulations to implement this section. (2) The application shall state the date and times for the distributions and shall not be issued to an individual or organization for more than one (1) day each calendar year, and only during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. or during daylight hours on such date. (3) The application to distribute shall specify the locations or intersections, and shall list the names of all individuals and agents authorized to distribute on behalf of an organization. (4) The application shall be accompanied by a current and valid liability insurance policy or certificate of insurance in the amount of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) that insures the individual or organization for any and all claims that may arise as a result of engaging in not for profit distribution in the street, alley, highway or roadway, and contains a clause that names the city and its officers, agents or employees as an additional named insured under the policy. (5) The application may be accompanied by a statement that the proposed distribution will not cause excessive traffic congestion or hazards and does not conflict with a previously issued parade permit or scheduled public event. The Director must make both an inquiry and a determination on those subjects prior to the issuance of a permit. (6) The chief of the division of police shall be provided a copy of the application, permit, and names of the individual or agents of an organization that is issued a permit under this section. All agents engaging in not for profit distribution shall possess a copy of such permit with them during the period of such distribution. (C) If charitable solicitation occurs during the distribution, the permit holder shall notify the Director within sixty (60) days of conclusion of the net proceeds resulting from the solicitation. (D) The requirements of paragraph (B) shall not apply to any employee of the division of fire, provided the Director, and the chief of the division of police, have received prior written notice of the date, time, and locations or intersections for not for profit distribution, and provided the employee is in uniform while on the street, highway, or roadway, and provided the employee has received permission from the chief of the division of fire. Article V. Businesses (Ord. No. 1589-2017, § 1, 6-19-2017; Ord. No. 2043-2018, § 1, 7-23-2018; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 525.095 Reserved.

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT5BURELICO_CH525CHSOFetched: 10/27/2026