Newport News, Virginia: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: No solicitor permit. Newport News used to have one: Chapter 36 of the City Code "pertained to solicitors," and the code's own editor's note says Ord. No. 7417-17, adopted October 10, 2017, repealed it. The chapter now reads Reserved. What is left is the business-license chapter's peddler and itinerant merchant license (23-50), and its definition of a peddler is someone who "shall carry from place to place any goods, wares or merchandise and offer to sell or barter the same" (23-3). A rep taking orders door to door for a service, carrying no goods, is not described by that definition. A separate "direct seller" tax category (23-45) only applies to a seller who lives in the city and whose own annual sales exceed $4,000.00. Confirm with the Commissioner of the Revenue how the city classifies your company.
• Where it comes from: Newport News City Code Chapter 23, Licenses, administered by the Commissioner of the Revenue.
• Fee: If the peddler/itinerant merchant category applies: $325.00 per year (23-50(a)). If the direct-seller category applies and the rep's own sales exceed $4,000.00 a year and the rep lives in the city: $0.20 per $100.00 of retail sales (23-45). No fee for a door-to-door service-sales rep who fits neither category is published.
• Hours you may knock: The code sets no knocking hours. A full-text search of the City Code for solicitor, peddler, canvasser and itinerant found no hours rule, and the chapter that once regulated solicitors (Chapter 36) is repealed.
• What the rep carries: If licensed as a peddler: the license/decal, kept in a convenient place and shown to any police officer or field representative on request (23-9).
• What takes the time: Not published. No background check, fingerprinting or bond for peddlers, itinerant merchants or direct sellers was found in Chapter 23.
• Code: Newport News City Code Chapter 36 (Reserved; repealed by Ord. No. 7417-17); 23-3, 23-9, 23-45, 23-50 (Chapter 23, Licenses); 3-9.
• Worth knowing: Leave-behinds: no commercial handbill may be left on private premises that post "No Trespassing," "No Peddlers or Agents," "No Advertisement" or a similar notice (3-9(b)).
• Read it yourself: Newport News City Code Chapter 23, Licenses · Newport News City Code Chapter 28, Offenses—Miscellaneous · Newport News City Code Chapter 36, Reserved (editor's note) · Newport News City Code 3-9, Distributing handbills on occupied private premises · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Does a company rep taking orders door to door for a subscription service (no goods carried) need a peddler license, a business license, both or neither? Since Chapter 36 (Solicitors) was repealed in 2017, does the Police Department still ask door-to-door crews to register or check in? Does the city enforce any hours for residential door-to-door sales? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________