Jackson, Tennessee: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a peddler's/solicitor's permit from the city before operating as a solicitor (9-103), plus a City of Jackson business license (9-106, 9-111). A solicitor is anyone going dwelling to dwelling taking or attempting to take orders for goods, wares, merchandise or personal property for future delivery (9-101); the definition does not name services.
• Where it comes from: The city recorder takes the sworn application and issues the permit after the police chief or designee reviews and endorses it (9-104(1), (3)).
• Fee: A nonrefundable $200.00 with each permit application, or another amount the city council approves (9-104(2)), and $200.00 again to renew each year (9-108). The code does not say whether one application covers a whole team; the application lists every person who will make sales (9-104(1)(d)).
• Hours you may knock: The peddler and solicitor chapter sets no knocking hours (9-101 to 9-111).
• What the rep carries: A valid peddler's/solicitor's permit and business license in his possession, shown on demand to a police or revenue officer or anyone in the city revenue department (9-106).
• What takes the time: A sworn application with the company's name and address, each seller's name, phone and address, every vehicle used, a copy of a driver's license or ID, the contract or order form, and a statement that the applicant is not a registered sex offender (9-104(1)). Police review: a felony conviction within ten years involving violence, burglary, theft or fraud means denial (9-104(4)). No processing time is published.
• Code: Jackson Code of Ordinances, Title 9 — Business, Peddlers, Solicitors, Etc., Chapter 1 — Peddlers, Solicitors, Etc. (9-101 to 9-111), enacted new by Ord. #2024-19, May 2024. Municode shows the code codified through Ordinance No. 2025-25, enacted June 3, 2025 (Supp. No. 2).
• Worth knowing: No entering premises posted "Peddlers or Solicitors Prohibited" or similar (9-105(5)). Failing to leave promptly when asked is a trespass (11-401(5)). Permits expire one year from issue (9-108).
• Read it yourself: Jackson Code of Ordinances, Title 9, Chapter 1 — Peddlers, Solicitors, Etc. · Jackson Code of Ordinances, Title 11, Chapter 4 — Offenses Against Property · Jackson Code of Ordinances — landing page · checked 23 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Whether one $200.00 permit covers a whole sales team listed on the application, or each rep needs his own
• Whether a rep taking orders for a service (such as fiber internet) is a solicitor under 9-101
• How many business days the police review takes

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________