Athens, Georgia: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — an itinerant merchant permit for the company, plus an individual identification badge for every rep. Chapter 6-6, Special Sales, defines an itinerant merchant as anyone selling "goods, merchandise or services to the public on private property, whether in a commercial or residential area, on a temporary itinerant basis" (6-6-1) and makes itinerant sales without a permit unlawful (6-6-2(b)). The county's own regulatory application has a check box for "Itinerant Merchants: ( ) Door-to-Door". The permit is on top of the occupation tax certificate (6-6-2(b)).
• Where it comes from: The Finance Department, 375 Satula Avenue. Applications for itinerant merchants "shall be made at the Finance Department" (6-6-2(d)).
• Fee: $80.00 vendor permit fee plus a $20.00 ID badge for each person, per the county's application form revised 07/01/2026. The code's own fee table still prints 75.00 for the itinerant merchant permit and 20.00 for the badge (6-6-2(g)); the form is the newer number. Fees are not prorated or refundable (6-6-2(g)).
• Hours you may knock: The code sets no knocking hours. Chapter 6-6 has clock times only for the farmers market and food trucks. Itinerant sellers may not make noise that violates the noise control ordinance (6-6-6(c)).
• What the rep carries: The permit, displayed so it is visible at all times while selling (6-6-3(a)), and the individual identification badge worn on the person, conspicuous and clearly visible (6-6-3(b)). Every person selling needs a badge, "whether the principal or an employee" (6-6-2(e)).
• What takes the time: The application asks for federal and state tax ID numbers (6-6-2(h)), a name, address and SSN or driver's license number for each badge, a notarized citizenship affidavit and an E-Verify affidavit. The form requires a location address for every permit except door-to-door. The code states no processing time and no background check.
• Code: Athens-Clarke County Code, Title 6, Chapter 6-6, Special Sales (6-6-1, 6-6-2, 6-6-3, 6-6-6, 6-6-13 to 6-6-15), and Chapter 6-1, Occupation Taxes.
• Worth knowing: The county's new-business handout describes the itinerant merchant permit as needing "written permission from the property owner and approval from Planning" — wording that fits a tent or lot sale, while the application form exempts door-to-door from the location line. Handbills may not be left at a property posted against them (3-12-14). A false statement on the application is its own offense (6-6-12), and permits can be suspended or revoked (6-6-13).
• Read it yourself: Athens-Clarke County Code, Chapter 6-6, Special Sales · Athens-Clarke County Regulatory Application (vendor permit, revised 07/01/2026) · Athens-Clarke County, General Information for New Businesses · Athens-Clarke County Code, Chapter 6-1, Occupation Taxes and Regulatory Fees · Athens-Clarke County Code, Title 3, Public Safety (checked for hours; none found) · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Is the itinerant merchant permit fee $80.00 (application form) or 75.00 (code table 6-6-2(g)), and is it one permit per company? How long does a door-to-door itinerant merchant permit last before it must be renewed? Does a door-to-door crew need Planning approval or property-owner permission, or is that only for fixed-location sales? Does an out-of-town company also need an Athens-Clarke County occupation tax certificate, and what does it cost? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________