Clarksville, Tennessee: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes. The city defines PEDDLER to include anyone going house to house or place to place selling or offering goods, wares, merchandise, or services, and the word "expressly includes solicitors" (§ 5-201). It is unlawful to engage in that business without a peddler's permit (§ 5-202). The permit is per person — every individual conducting peddler activities needs their own permit, "even though two (2) or more such persons may be employed by, or acting on behalf of, the same business organization" (§ 5-203(a)).
• Where it comes from: Applications go to the city's Department of Finance and Revenue, but the Chief of Police (or a designee) reviews and approves or denies every application before the permit is issued (§ 5-203, § 5-204).
• Fee: $165 non-refundable administrative processing fee per applicant, per year (§ 5-203(d)).
• Hours you may knock: Daylight hours only, Monday through Saturday. The code bars peddler activity "from dusk of one day through dawn of the next day," citing National Weather Service sunset/sunrise times, and states the intent is that "door-to-door sales occur only during daylight hours" (§ 5-214(a)).
• What the rep carries: The permit itself, displayed on the rep's person at all times while peddling and shown to any officer on request (§ 5-207); the city also issues a separate license alongside the permit for use while peddling (§ 5-206).
• What takes the time: A recent 2x2 inch photo, a copy of state or federal ID, a description and license plate for any vehicle used, and a copy of the actual sales order form the rep will use with customers all go in the application (§ 5-203(c)). The applicant must attest they are not a registered sex offender and are not under any court order restricting them from peddling. The Chief of Police must approve or deny within 10 business days, and denies anyone with a felony conviction for violence, burglary, theft, or fraud within the past 10 years (§ 5-204).
• Code: Clarksville City Code, Title 5, Chapter 2 (Peddlers), §§ 5-201 through 5-214, hosted on Municode Library.
• Worth knowing: A permit does not override a posted sign — leaving promptly is mandatory once a resident posts "no peddling," "no solicitation," "no trespassing," or similar wording, or simply tells the rep to leave; ignoring either is a trespass and a civil violation of the chapter (§ 5-214(b)). Bona fide non-profit, charitable, religious, patriotic, veteran, and school organizations are exempt from the whole chapter, but ordinary commercial sales are not (§ 5-202.5). A permit can be revoked for any violation of the chapter, and once revoked a permittee must wait at least 6 months before reapplying (§ 5-211, § 5-213).
• Read it yourself: Clarksville City Code, Chapter 2: Peddlers · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Whether the $165 fee can be paid once for the team or is charged individually to each rep; How long the Chief of Police's 10-business-day review typically takes in practice during a busy season; Whether Sunday is treated as excluded from door-to-door sales entirely, since § 5-214 only names Monday through Saturday. Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________