Kansas City, Missouri: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: No general door-to-door solicitor permit is in the Kansas City code. The house-to-house licenses on the books are all tied to a product: the peddler license for anyone who peddles wares, goods or merchandise “from house to house” (40-133), the hawker or huckster license for farm products (40-108), a magazine subscription agency and agent license (40-119), and a “Vacuum cleaners, house-to-house salesman” license (40-162). None of them names a rep who only takes orders for a service. The old hawking and peddling rules in Chapter 50 were repealed in 2006 (editor’s note, 50-2 to 50-5). What still applies to everyone: the posted-sign rule (50-172) and the city’s general business license. A team that only takes orders for a service should confirm with the Business License Office which license, if any, applies.
• Where it comes from: Licenses under Chapter 40 are city business licenses; the chapter puts them under the commissioner of revenue. The code section does not name a counter for peddlers.
• Fee: Peddler license, on foot: the schedule reads “Per year .....62.50” per person, and the same figure for nonresidents, in advance. Using a vehicle: “The $32.00 license fee” per vehicle per year, not prorated (40-133).
• Hours you may knock: The code sets no knocking hours. Chapter 40 and Chapter 50 were read and neither carries a clock time for solicitors.
• What the rep carries: Not stated for solicitors. Chapter 40 has a general display-of-licenses section (40-21); ask what a peddler on foot must show.
• What takes the time: Not published. The peddler section lists no background check, bond or processing time.
• Code: Kansas City Code of Ordinances 40-133 (Peddler); 40-108; 40-119; 40-162; 4-35; 50-172 (Solicitation prohibited); editor’s note at 50-2 to 50-5. Municode shows the version dated Jun 25, 2026 as current.
• Worth knowing: A “No Solicitation” or “No Solicitors” sign posted at the front door makes any solicitation there unlawful (50-172). The section has no exemption for licensed sellers. Leave-behinds have their own rule: no commercial handbill may be left on premises posted “No Trespassing,” “No Peddlers or Agents” or “No Advertisement” (4-35). Product-specific licenses: magazine subscription agency “per year .....$100.00” plus each agent “per year .....$2.50” (40-119); vacuum cleaner house-to-house salesman “Per year, for each salesperson .....$ 25.00” (40-162).
• Read it yourself: Kansas City Code 40-133, Peddler · Kansas City Code 50-172, Solicitation prohibited · Kansas City Code 50-2 to 50-5, Reserved (editor’s note) · Kansas City Code 40-108, Hawker or huckster · Kansas City Code 40-119, Magazine subscription agency and agent · Kansas City Code 40-162, Vacuum cleaners, house-to-house salesman · Kansas City Code Chapter 4, Article II, Handbills · City of Kansas City, Business License page · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Does a rep who only takes orders for a service (no goods in hand) need the 40-133 peddler license or any other license? Which office issues the peddler license, and how long does it take? Does the city enforce any knocking hours? What must a rep carry at the door? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________