Camarillo, California: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a commercial solicitation permit, issued to the person doing the soliciting (5.32.020). Commercial solicitation covers taking orders for goods or services door to door (5.32.010). The city's Door-to-Door Solicitors Guide says a rep also needs a Camarillo business tax certificate issued specifically for solicitation, and carries both.
• Where it comes from: The Business Tax Division of the Finance Department. Applications go in online through the city's OpenGov portal, and the portal says the Business Tax Division, the City Clerk's Office and the Ventura County Sheriff's Office each review them.
• Fee: The code leaves the fee to a council resolution (5.32.030(B)). The city's Master Fee Schedule (Finance Department, Exhibit E) lists "Solicitor Permit - For Profit" at 327 in its dollar column. The schedule does not say whether that is per rep or per company. The separate business tax certificate is not priced on this card.
• Hours you may knock: Only between eight a.m. and nine p.m. (5.32.080(A)(1)). No knocking at any home that posts a "no solicitors" sign or anything like it (5.32.080(A)(3)).
• What the rep carries: The permit, shown to anyone who asks (5.32.080(C)). The city attaches the applicant's photo to the back of it (5.32.040(D)). The city's guide describes a plastic, wallet-sized card with the salesperson's picture and an embossed city logo, carried together with the solicitation business tax certificate.
• What takes the time: File at least ten working days before the permit is to take effect, under penalty of perjury, with a passport-sized photo no more than one year old (5.32.030(A), (C)). The city runs a state and local background check (5.32.030(E)). The director issues or denies within ten working days, and a permit not acted on in that time is deemed issued (5.32.040(C)). Certain convictions and sex-offender registration bar door-to-door work at homes (5.32.100).
• Code: Camarillo Municipal Code, Title 5, Chapter 5.32 — Commercial Solicitations—Permit Procedures (5.32.010 to 5.32.120), with general permit rules in Chapter 5.08. Municode shows the code codified through Ordinance No. 2039, enacted June 10, 2026 (Supp. No. 27, Update 1).
• Worth knowing: The permit renews at the same time as the business tax certificate for the solicitation business (5.32.050) and cannot be transferred (5.32.070). Anyone under sixteen must be supervised by an adult, who applies for the permit (5.32.080(A)(2)). A customer who asks gets a signed written receipt showing the permit number (5.32.090).
• Read it yourself: Camarillo Municipal Code, Chapter 5.32 — Commercial Solicitations—Permit Procedures · Camarillo Municipal Code — landing page · City of Camarillo — Master Fee Schedule 2026 (PDF) · City of Camarillo — Door-to-Door Solicitors Guide (PDF) · City of Camarillo — Solicitors Permit (OpenGov portal) · checked 23 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Whether the 327 Solicitor Permit - For Profit fee is charged per rep or once per company
• What the solicitation business tax certificate costs, and whether each rep needs one
• How long the Sheriff's background check usually takes before the permit card is issued

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________