Melbourne, Florida: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: No separate city solicitor permit. Chapter 46 sets rules for solicitors and peddlers (hours, signs, conduct) and says peddlers and solicitors must meet the business tax receipt requirements in Chapter 54 (46-22). A solicitor is anyone going place to place taking orders for goods for future delivery or for services to be performed in the future (46-20).
• Where it comes from: The business tax receipt is sold by the city's director of finance (54-244). The code says anyone who is the agent for a business, or who offers to sell goods or services for one, must first get a receipt from the city (54-203).
• Fee: Door-to-door sellers are classified as category 64, direct selling establishments ("peddlers, canvassers, solicitors"), taxed on Table One (54-284): a flat base rate of $ 75.00 plus an amount set by number of employees — 25.00 for a business run by the owner or one employee, rising by headcount (as printed in the table). A new application carries a nonrefundable fee of $25.00, applied to the first year's tax if the receipt issues (54-248).
• Hours you may knock: In a residential area, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.; in a commercial area, during the hours a business is open (46-21(a)).
• What the rep carries: The code names no badge or ID card for solicitors.
• What takes the time: The code sets no background check, fingerprinting or bond for solicitors. Receipts run October 1 to September 30 (54-244).
• Code: Melbourne City Code Chapter 46, Article II — Solicitors, Canvassers, Peddlers and Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicles (46-19 to 46-24); Chapter 54, Article VIII — Local Business Tax (54-201 to 54-284). Municode shows the code codified through Ordinance No. 2026-22, adopted May 26, 2026 (Supp. No. 32).
• Worth knowing: No soliciting on premises where a "No Solicitors" or "No Solicitation" notice is posted in plain view; no more than two reps may approach one person at a time; a rep must leave at once when asked (46-21(d), (e), (f)). The article is to be construed with Florida's home solicitation sales permit law, F.S. 501.022, which prevails in a conflict (46-23).
• Read it yourself: Melbourne City Code Chapter 46 — Solicitation · Melbourne City Code Chapter 54 — Taxation (Article VIII, Local Business Tax) · Melbourne City Code — Municode landing page · checked 21 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Whether the business tax receipt is one per company or one per rep
• Which employee count to use for a door-to-door crew on Table One
• Whether the city checks for the state home solicitation sales permit (F.S. 501.022)

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________