Oakland, California: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes. It is unlawful to solicit or take orders from house to house without a police certificate (5.48.020). A "solicitor" includes anyone going house to house taking orders for goods for future delivery or for services to be performed in the future (5.48.010). The certificate is issued to the person, so figure one per rep.
• Where it comes from: Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 5.48, Peddlers and Solicitors. Apply in writing, in person, to the Chief of Police (5.48.020).
• Fee: The Master Fee Schedule, Police Department, lists the application filing fee for a Peddler's Police Certificate at 69.25 per certificate and 22.70 for the annual renewal, in dollars. The schedule prints these amounts without a dollar sign. The code itself sets no fee.
• Hours you may knock: Not set. Chapter 5.48 has no hours rule for peddlers or solicitors.
• What the rep carries: The police certificate, together with any other license the code requires, carried at all times while working (5.48.020).
• What takes the time: Applying in person, and fingerprinting if the police ask for it. The certificate is good for one year and renewal is a fresh application (5.48.020). No processing time is published.
• Code: Oakland Municipal Code 5.48.010 to 5.48.030. Municode shows the code as "Version: Jul 13, 2026 (current)".
• Worth knowing: A "No Peddlers" sign, or words of similar import, makes it unlawful for a peddler or solicitor to ring the bell or knock (5.48.030).
• Read it yourself: Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 5.48 · City of Oakland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Master Fee Schedule · checked 18 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Where and when does OPD take police certificate applications, and how long until it is issued? Is the 69.25 filing fee the whole cost, or is there a fingerprint or ID card charge on top? Does each rep also need an Oakland business tax certificate, or only the company? Any hours OPD enforces for door-to-door sales? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________