Greensboro, North Carolina: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes. Every person who goes place to place taking orders for goods or services to be delivered later "shall obtain a business permit" (13-202(a)). Anyone who solicits or sells door to door at private residences must apply and pass a criminal background history check reviewed by the chief of police (13-202(d)). It is per person: the permit is "a personal privilege" and cannot be transferred (13-191).
• Where it comes from: The City's Collections Division, Room 11, UG Level, Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St., or the online application on the city's Business Permit page. In the code, applications go in writing to the city manager or his designee on the city's form, and a solicitor must give the name and address of the company represented and a description of what is being sold (13-185).
• Fee: No fee. The city's Business Permit page says commercial solicitors "must obtain a business permit at no cost to them" and "There is no cost for the business permit nor are there any assessed penalties." The code sets no permit fee either. The cost is the bond: "five hundred dollars ($500.00)" before a solicitor permit issues, rising in steps of at least $250.00 if undelivered orders through one solicitor pass $500.00 (13-202(c)).
• Hours you may knock: Sunrise to sunset only: door-to-door reps "shall only conduct this activity between sunrise and sunset" (13-202(e)). No clock times are given.
• What the rep carries: The permit itself, displayed on the chest, "hanging from a lanyard or clipped to their garment," so the name, type of permit and expiration date are visible (13-190).
• What takes the time: The criminal background history check, reviewed by the chief of police or designee, and the bond, which must be approved by the city attorney (13-202(c), (d)). The code gives no processing time. Permits run to June 30 and renew by July 1 (13-183, 13-187). The city's page says the permit must be in hand no later than the first day of business.
• Code: Greensboro Code of Ordinances Chapter 13, Article V, Business Permits for Commercial Soliciting, Peddling, Itinerant Merchants, Mobile Food Vending, and Massage (13-181 to 13-204). Municode reads "Codified through Ordinances of June 16, 2026. (Supp. No. 133, Update 1)".
• Worth knowing: A rep is ineligible with, in the last ten years, two or more violations of the chapter or a conviction for assault, communicating threats, a sexual offense or abuse involving a minor, a sexually violent offense, or illegal use of weapons (13-202(d)). A solicitor engaged in interstate commerce is not covered by the permit requirement but still has to "secure a business permit appropriately marked to show such an exemption" (13-202(b)). Reps may not enter a home without express consent and must leave at once when asked (13-202(e)).
• Read it yourself: Greensboro Code Ch. 13, Art. V (13-181 to 13-204) · City of Greensboro, Business Permit · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: How long does the police background check take? Is the $500 bond per rep or per company, and what bond form does the city attorney accept? Does a fiber or solar rep count as interstate commerce and get the exempt-marked permit? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________