Ames, Iowa: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a registration and identification badge from the City Clerk, worn plainly visible, for every person going residence to residence taking orders for goods or services (17.26(1)). The city's permit page says the permit is per person.
• Where it comes from: The Ames City Clerk (17.26(1), (4)).
• Fee: $50 per person, valid for 60 days from issuance, per the City Clerk's permit page. The code leaves the fee to the City Council (17.26(12)) and sets the 60-day life of the badge (17.26(9)).
• Hours you may knock: No residence-to-residence soliciting between 8:00 p.m and 8:00 a.m. (17.26(10)).
• What the rep carries: The City of Ames badge, worn plainly visible, with the rep's photo taken at the Clerk's office or where the Clerk directs (17.26(1), (7)). Adults show a photo driver's license, passport or other official photo ID at registration (17.26(6)).
• What takes the time: The Clerk issues the badge or a written reason for refusal within five days of the application (17.26(5)). The application asks for name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, physical description, vehicles used, products and prices, the supplier, proof of a state sales tax permit or exemption, the crew leader, criminal convictions other than traffic, and the last three cities worked (17.26(4)). A corporation shows it has a resident agent within 50 miles of the city (17.26(4)(h)). The badge lasts only 60 days, so a longer campaign re-registers.
• Code: Ames Municipal Code, Chapter 17 — Offenses–Miscellaneous, Sec. 17.26 — Peddlers, Solicitors, and Transient Merchants, posted as a PDF by the city (file named supplement 2025-3). Last amendment shown in the section: Ord. No. 3931, 11-20-07.
• Worth knowing: Entering residential premises that post "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors" or similar at the entry is a violation, registered or not (17.26(15)). A violation is a municipal infraction, $100 for a first and $200 for each repeat, or a simple misdemeanor (17.26(16)). The city page says a state sales tax number or exemption number is required to get the permit. Regularly scheduled route deliveries, such as cable television service, are exempt (17.26(8)(b)).
• Read it yourself: Ames Municipal Code, Chapter 17 (PDF) — Sec. 17.26 Peddlers, Solicitors, and Transient Merchants · City of Ames — Peddler/Solicitor/Transient Merchant Permits · City of Ames — Municipal Code Table of Contents · checked 23 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Whether the $50 is charged again each time a rep renews after the 60-day badge expires
• Whether a rep selling a service with no sales tax (such as fiber internet) still needs the state sales tax permit or exemption before registering
• Whether the whole crew can register the same day, and where the badge photo is taken

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________