Modesto, California: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Effectively no cold-knocking, and yes to a license if you do it anyway. Modesto's code declares it a nuisance, punishable as an infraction, for a solicitor, peddler or itinerant merchant to go to a private residence "not having been requested so to do by the owner" (4-7.401) — unless the rep or their company already has a fixed place of business in the City (4-7.403(a)). Separately, anyone without a City-licensed fixed place of business who sells or takes retail orders going house to house is an Itinerant Vendor and must hold a business license (6-1.223).
• Where it comes from: Modesto Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 7, Article 4 (Peddlers) and Title 6, Chapter 1, Article 1 (Itinerant Vendors), both on Municode Library. The itinerant vendor license comes from the Finance Department (Tax Collector).
• Fee: $200.00 per location, in advance, good for up to one quarter (90 calendar days), for anyone conducting the business of an itinerant vendor without a fixed City place of business (6-1.223). A separate group rate exists only for a sponsored bazaar, fair, trade show or swap meet, not for a door-to-door sales team.
• Hours you may knock: None currently set. The code's "Limited Hours" section for peddlers (4-7.402) was repealed in 1984 and no replacement hours restriction was found.
• What the rep carries: Anyone licensed under Chapter 1 who has no fixed place of business "shall carry such license with him/her at all times" and produce it on request from a police officer or a City license official (6-1.117).
• What takes the time: Not published for the itinerant vendor license itself — no processing-day figure or background-check requirement was found in Article 1 of Chapter 1.
• Code: Modesto Municipal Code 4-7.401 to 4-7.404 (Peddlers) and 6-1.106, 6-1.117, 6-1.223 (Business Licenses, Itinerant Vendors).
• Worth knowing: The nuisance ban (4-7.401) only exempts persons or their agents who already have a fixed place of business in Modesto (4-7.403(a)) — an out-of-town crew almost never qualifies, so an invitation from the resident is the difference between lawful and an infraction for a cold knock.
• Read it yourself: Modesto Municipal Code 4-7.401 to 4-7.404, Peddlers · Modesto Municipal Code 6-1.106, 6-1.117, 6-1.223, Itinerant Vendors · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Does the Police Department run a background check or require fingerprints before issuing the itinerant vendor business license? How many business days does the license take to issue? Is the $200 quarterly fee per rep or per crew/location? Does an invitation from one resident on a block cover the rest of the block, or does 4-7.401 apply house by house? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________