Johnson City, Tennessee: door-to-door solicitor permit

Partly read: the permit answer is sourced, but the fee or the hours could not be read from the city’s own pages. The clerk questions below cover the gap.

• The answer: The code has no solicitor permit. It declares soliciting orders for merchandise or other property for future delivery, while using the city's streets and sidewalks, to be a privilege (9-401), and the city levies the state Business Tax Act on businesses in the city (9-101). Title 9 sets no application, badge or background check for door-to-door sales. The code does not say how the privilege is paid for; see the City Clerk Call Sheet.
• Fee: The code publishes no solicitor fee. Business tax applies at the maximum rates the state Business Tax Act allows (9-101); the amount is not in the city code.
• Hours you may knock: The code sets no knocking hours. Title 9, Chapter 4 has no time rule, and Titles 11, 16 and 20 contain none for solicitors. Business may be carried on on Sundays as on any other day (9-102).
• Code: Johnson City Municipal Code, Title 9 — Business, Peddlers, Solicitors, etc., Chapter 4 — Peddlers and Solicitors (9-401 to 9-403) and Chapter 1 (9-101, 9-102), published by MTAS. The MTAS page says the code was last updated June 5, 2025.
• Worth knowing: No leaving commercial handbills on private premises posted "No Trespassing," "No Peddlers or Agents" or similar, or where someone there asks you not to (11-203). Selling from trucks or carts on public property inside the fire district is barred (9-403).
• Read it yourself: Johnson City Municipal Code, Title 9 — Business, Peddlers, Solicitors, etc. (MTAS PDF) · Johnson City Municipal Code, Title 11 — Municipal Offenses (MTAS PDF) · MTAS — Municipal Code, Johnson City · City of Johnson City — Code and Charter · checked 22 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Whether door-to-door reps or their company must register for a business license or pay business tax before soliciting orders (9-401, 9-101)
• Whether any permit, background check or ID badge is required for door-to-door sales
• Whether the city enforces any knocking hours

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________