The Doorstep Playbook

Door-to-Door Permit Rules in the District of Columbia: 1 City Checked

So far one city in the District of Columbia has been checked. It links to its own card, which cites the ordinance and shows the date it was checked.

Washington

  • Permit: Yes. The District licenses it as a business activity: a Basic Business License in the General Sales and Services category, activity Solicitor .
  • Fee: $99.00 for a 2-year license or $198.00 for a 4-year license, per DLCP's Solicitor page. The page does not say whether that is per rep or per company, and it lists no separate badge fee. A Solicitor Surety Bond of $500 is also required.
  • Hours you may knock: Not published, and we looked in three places. DLCP's Solicitor page sets no knocking hours, the old solicitor statute (D.C. Code 47-2835) is repealed, and the chapter lists of DCMR Title 16 (consumers and commercial practices), Title 17 (business and occupations) and Title 24 (public space) have no solicitor or door-to-door chapter. Title 16 has only Chapter 13, Charitable Solicitation; Title 24 has Chapter 5, Vendors.
  • Checked: 19 September 2026

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City not on this list? The City Clerk Call Sheet has the eight questions to ask any city.