Duluth, Minnesota: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a registration, not a license, for a rep taking orders for future delivery. Duluth calls that rep a solicitor (same as a canvasser): anyone going house to house to take orders for services or goods for future performance or delivery (27-5(a)). "Solicitors need not be licensed, but are required to register with the city" (27-6(b)), and the clerk issues a certificate of registration (27-6(g)). A rep who carries the goods and hands them over on the spot is a peddler and needs a paid city license (27-5(a), 27-6(b)).
• Where it comes from: The Duluth City Clerk, on the same form as the license application (27-6(c), 27-6(g)). The clerk's licensing page lists the City Clerk, 318 City Hall, and the online Eplace portal for the application. Peddler license applications are investigated by the Duluth police department, which recommends approval or denial to the chief administrative officer (27-7(a)).
• Fee: Solicitor registration: no fee (27-6(g)(1)). Peddler license: the code sends the fee to Section 31-6(a) (27-8), and the city's 2026 Fee Schedule prints the Peddler line as $ 60.00 in each of the 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 columns.
• Hours you may knock: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. — no peddler or canvasser may call on a private residence before 9:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. unless invited by the owner or occupier (27-9).
• What the rep carries: A licensed peddler carries the license and shows it to any police officer or citizen who asks (27-10). A registered solicitor gets a non-transferable certificate of registration as proof of registration (27-6(g)(1)); the code does not say in so many words that a solicitor must carry it.
• What takes the time: Registration is immediate: the clerk issues the certificate as soon as the form is completed (27-6(g)(1)). The form asks for a physical description, home address and phone, employer, a 10-year conviction statement, and a driver's license number or other photo ID (27-6(c)). A peddler license is applied for at least 14 regular business days ahead, goes through a police background check, and is issued or denied within 12 regular business days of a complete application (27-6(c), 27-6(e), 27-7).
• Code: Duluth Legislative Code, Chapter 27 — Hawkers, Peddlers, and Transient Businesses, Article II — Peddlers and Canvassers (27-5 to 27-15). Municode shows the version of May 20, 2026 as current; 27-8 carries Ord. No. 10965 of 3-23-2026.
• Worth knowing: The city code also requires any license the county issues under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 329, if the county issues one for the activity (27-6(a)). A rep must leave any residence when the owner or occupant asks (27-12) and may not misrepresent the purpose of the visit or the company (27-13). No "No Soliciting" sign rule appears in Article II. For peddler licenses the code (27-8, amended 2026) says licenses expire March 31, while the clerk's licensing page says the license period is January 1 - December 31.
• Read it yourself: Duluth Legislative Code, Chapter 27 — Hawkers, Peddlers, and Transient Businesses (Municode) · Duluth Legislative Code, Chapter 27 (chapter PDF on Municode) · City of Duluth 2026 Fee Schedule · City of Duluth — Business Licensing · checked 21 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Whether solicitor registration is one form per rep or one per company
• Whether a registered solicitor must carry the certificate of registration while knocking
• Whether St. Louis County issues a license under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 329 that a solicitor also needs
• Whether peddler licenses now run to March 31 (code 27-8) or January 1 - December 31 (licensing page)

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________