Chico, California: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a House-to-House Peddling and Soliciting Permit, per person, issued by the administrative services director (5.24.060). Taking orders for future delivery of goods or services is "soliciting" (5.24.020). Each application also needs a permit bond (5.24.100), and the permit is no good until the business license tax is paid (5.24.180).
• Where it comes from: Chico Municipal Code Chapter 5.24, House-to-House Peddling and Soliciting. The city's application form goes back to the Finance Office at 411 Main Street, 1st Floor.
• Fee: The code sets no number; the fee is set by council resolution (5.24.090). The FY 2026/2027 Master Fee Schedule, effective July 6, 2026, prints "Solicitors' Permit Application Fee 133.50" and "Solicitors' Criminal Records Check Fee 7.50" under House to House Peddling and Soliciting Permit Fee. The city's posted application form, dated 1/13/15, still says an application fee of $13.00, kept by the city whether the permit is granted or denied. The two do not match; the fee schedule is the newer document. On top of that, a permit bond of $1,000 per person, or one joint bond from the company equal to that amount times the number of reps (5.24.100).
• Hours you may knock: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or sunset, whichever comes first (5.24.170(A)). The section binds every person going house to house, permit or not.
• What the rep carries: The permit, displayed on the person so it is plainly visible to whoever is being solicited (5.24.150). The rep must state their name, the company and the goods or services right away at the door (5.24.170(B)).
• What takes the time: The bond, which the city attorney must approve as to form before a permit issues (5.24.100), and a police review of local criminal records for convictions in the past seven years (5.24.110). The director must approve or deny within ten calendar days of filing (5.24.120). The permit covers only the dates listed on the application (5.24.130).
• Code: Chico Municipal Code 5.24.010 to 5.24.200 (Ord. 2062, as amended through Ord. 2439), read on American Legal Publishing.
• Worth knowing: No permit is needed for anyone under 16, agents of a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, or licensed realtors soliciting listings (5.24.070) — but the hours rule still covers them. The application form says the permit expires when the bond is canceled and is not transferable.
• Read it yourself: Chico Municipal Code Chapter 5.24, House-to-House Peddling and Soliciting · Chico Municipal Code 5.24.060 Permit requirements · Chico Municipal Code 5.24.090 Permit fees · Chico Municipal Code 5.24.100 Permit bonds · Chico Municipal Code 5.24.170 Times and manner · Chico Municipal Code 5.24.150 Display of permits · Chico Municipal Code 5.24.120 Action on permit applications by director · City of Chico FY 2026/2027 Master Fee Schedule (where chicoca.gov/CityFeeSchedule/ lands) · City of Chico Application for House-to-House Peddling and Soliciting Permit · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Is the current application fee 133.50 plus the 7.50 records check per rep, as the FY 2026/2027 Master Fee Schedule prints, and not the $13.00 on the posted form?
• Will one joint company bond cover a whole crew, and what does the city attorney need to approve it?
• What business license does an out-of-town company need before the permits are valid?

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________