Lynchburg, Virginia: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a permit from the Chief of Police before anyone works as a peddler in the city (29-19). A peddler is any individual going house to house selling or taking orders for goods or for services to be performed in the future, and the word covers canvassers and solicitors (29-1). Each applicant files a sworn application with a photo and is fingerprinted, so it is one permit per rep (29-20, 29-23).
• Where it comes from: The Lynchburg Chief of Police, on the Chief's application form, filed in duplicate (29-20).
• Fee: $15.00, paid when the application is filed, to cover processing; not refundable (29-28).
• Hours you may knock: No peddling between one-half hour before sunset and 9:00 a.m. the next morning, and none at any time on Sundays, except by specific appointment with or invitation from the customer (29-6).
• What the rep carries: The permit, which shows the rep's name, address and photograph; it must be displayed on the request of any person (29-29, 29-31).
• What takes the time: A police investigation of business and moral character, which the Chief must complete within two weeks of receiving the application (29-26). Fingerprinting (29-23), a 2x2 photo taken within 60 days (29-20(g)), and the driver's license shown at filing (29-21). A surety bond is required for non-residents and for residents working for a firm based outside Virginia; a company may file one $1,000.00 bond for all its reps (29-24).
• Code: Code of the City of Lynchburg, Chapter 29 — Peddlers and Solicitors (29-1 to 29-33). Municode shows the code codified through Ordinance No. O-25-021, adopted March 11, 2025 (Supp. No. 10).
• Worth knowing: No entering private premises posted "No Peddlers Allowed" or "No Solicitations Allowed" or similar words (29-3), and refusing to leave when told is a class 2 misdemeanor (29-4). A permit runs for the period stated on it, never more than 12 months (29-32). The chapter's footnote points to separate license fees for peddlers in the city tax code (36-71), which was not read for this card.
• Read it yourself: Code of the City of Lynchburg, Chapter 29 — Peddlers and Solicitors · Lynchburg Code of Ordinances — landing page · checked 22 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Whether a separate business license (BPOL) is needed for the company or each rep on top of the police permit
• How long the police permit usually takes in practice, given the two-week investigation limit
• Whether a company bond of $1,000.00 covers reps who are not Lynchburg residents

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________