Columbus, Ohio: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — two licenses. Every rep needs a commercial sales license to peddle, solicit or canvass (523.02(a)), and the company that puts reps in the field needs a commercial sales promoter's license (523.02(b)). The definition covers going from address to address selling goods or services on private property "whether or not the material is actually delivered at the time of sale" (523.01(b)).
• Where it comes from: The License Section of the Department of Building and Zoning Services (523.01(l)). The city's Commercial Sales Information Sheet gives the office as 4252 Groves Rd, open 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM Monday to Friday.
• Fee: By code: commercial sales license "One hundred fifty ($150.00) dollars" a year, commercial sales promoter "Three hundred ($300.00) dollars" a year, or a four-month commercial sales license for $75.00 (523.06). The city's information sheet adds, per rep: Application $20.00, BCI Background Check $32.00, Identification Card $5.00.
• Hours you may knock: No door-to-door work in residential zones "between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m." (523.14(a)).
• What the rep carries: The city identification card, displayed "in a prominent manner so it is visible to the public," and shown on demand to any license officer, police officer or customer (523.11). Licenses and ID cards cannot be transferred (523.10).
• What takes the time: A BCI background check for each rep; if it is run at another WebCheck agency the results must be mailed straight to the License Section. The application is sworn before a notary or a License Section agent. Neither the code nor the sheet gives a processing time. Convictions within seven years for a sex offense, drug trafficking, an offense of violence, theft or fraud are grounds for refusal (523.07).
• Code: Columbus City Codes Chapter 523, Commercial Sales License (523.01 to 523.99), last amended by Ord. No. 0768-2024. Municode shows "Version: Jun 30, 2026 (current)".
• Worth knowing: A posted "no peddling", "no soliciting" or "no canvassing" sign bars entry onto that property (523.14(d)). 523.14(g) also requires express written permission from the property owner to sell on private property, and the city sheet lists "Private Property Written/Signed Permission" as required "if selling items on private property"; ask how the License Section applies that to door-knocking. A State of Ohio Transient Vendor's License is required only if selling taxable items. Working unlicensed is a third-degree misdemeanor (523.99).
• Read it yourself: Columbus City Codes Ch. 523, Commercial Sales License · City of Columbus Commercial Sales Information Sheet and Application (PDF, 11-2025) · checked 18 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: How long does a commercial sales license take from application to ID card? How does the written-permission rule in 523.14(g) apply to knocking on residential doors? Does each rep pay the $20.00 application fee, or only the first application from a company? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________