The Doorstep Playbook

Door-to-Door Permit Rules in Illinois: 5 Cities Checked

So far 5 cities in Illinois have been checked. Each one links to its own card, which cites the ordinance and shows the date it was checked.

Aurora

  • Permit: Yes — every peddler or solicitor must apply to the City Clerk and get a permit before peddling or soliciting (Sec 32-3).
  • Fee: $100 per 30 days per peddler, up to a maximum of six months per peddler per calendar year, and up to ten peddler permits per company per month — per the city's own Peddlers and Solicitors page.
  • Hours you may knock: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. April through September, and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. the rest of the year, in residential areas — never on state or federal holidays (Sec 32-27).
  • Checked: 19 September 2026

Chicago

  • Permit: Yes for selling goods — a street peddler license , one per individual.
  • Fee: $100.00 for a 2-year term, per person (4-5-010(27) and the BACP page). $50.00 for applicants 65 or older, veterans, or persons with a certified disability. An online application carries a $25.00 application fee that is credited toward the license fee (4-5-010).
  • Hours you may knock: The peddler chapter sets no hours for knocking on doors. Its only hours rule bars peddling in a public alley between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (4-244-120).
  • Checked: 19 September 2026

Joliet

  • Permit: Yes — a canvasser/solicitor registration permit from the Chief of Police, before calling at any residence to take orders, sales, subscriptions or business of any kind ( § 22-38 ).
  • Fee: 30.00 (dollars) per for-profit canvasser or solicitor permit, listed under § 22-39.1 in the city's fee schedule.
  • Hours you may knock: No solicitation between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.; no soliciting or canvassing at any time on Sunday (§ 22-32(b)).
  • Checked: 19 September 2026

Naperville

  • Permit: Yes — every rep needs individual peddler/solicitor approval from the City Clerk and the Police Department before knocking (§ 3-7-4).
  • Fee: $100.00 for a monthly peddler/solicitor approval, expiring every 30 days, per person, including one photo ID badge; a quarterly option is $300.00, expiring every 90 days per person (§ 3-7-3).
  • Hours you may knock: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday; no peddling or soliciting at any time on Sunday or on a state or federal holiday (§ 3-7-4(6)).
  • Checked: 19 September 2026

Rockford

  • Permit: Yes — a solicitation permit from the Finance Department before engaging in 'commercial home merchandising' door to door ( § 24-2 ).
  • Fee: $100 for up to one week, $150 up to one month, $225 up to six months, or $325 up to one year, per the city's Schedule of Fees, Rates & Charges.
  • Hours you may knock: No solicitation activity on private residential property between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. (§ 24-7(g)).
  • Checked: 19 September 2026

Back to the Permit Lookup

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