Ocala, Florida: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a mobile vendor's license (MVL) and an identification card from the building department before anyone solicits (22-341, 22-348(a)). A solicitor includes anyone going house to house taking orders for goods or for services to be performed in the future (22-342). The MVL is issued to the individual only, never to a company (22-349(c)). One exemption to read closely: sales of goods, wares and merchandise for future delivery when full payment is not required at the time of solicitation (22-344(a)(2)). The code does not say whether that covers service orders.
• Where it comes from: The building official at the Ocala building department, on a sworn application form (22-348(a)). The police department and the building department both enforce the division (22-345).
• Fee: City administrative processing costs of $30.00, plus a permit fee of $120.00 for one sales category (edibles, goods, services or rentals), and $120.00 more for each added category (22-348(a)(8), 22-349(b)) — so one rep selling one category pays $30.00 plus $120.00. A late renewal filed after November 1 adds $25.00 (22-350(a)(3)); an amendment to the application is $15.00 (22-348(c)). The rep also pays for the FDLE criminal history report (22-348(a)(9)); that cost is not printed in the code.
• Hours you may knock: Soliciting at any residence in person only between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (22-360).
• What the rep carries: With no vehicle or stand, the MVL and the photo identification card on the person; the card is produced on request of the building official (22-351, 22-352).
• What takes the time: Two recent photographs, two county property-owner character references, a conviction statement, and a Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal History Information Report obtained from the Ocala Police Department at the rep's expense (22-348(a)). The building official completes the investigation within two weeks, and may deny for any misdemeanor, crime or ordinance violation in the last five years (22-348(b)). Licenses run on the city fiscal year, October 1 through September 30 (22-349(a)).
• Code: Ocala Code of Ordinances, Chapter 22 — Businesses, Article VI — Peddlers, Solicitors and Vendors, Division 2 — Mobile Vendors (22-341 to 22-360). Municode shows the code codified through Ordinance No. 2026-9, adopted March 17, 2026 (Supp. No. 110).
• Worth knowing: People exempted in 22-344 still need an occupational license if chapter 62, article III requires one; a valid MVL counts as that license for its holder (22-356). The hours rule in 22-360 is written to bind any person, not only license holders.
• Read it yourself: Ocala Code, Chapter 22, Article VI — Peddlers, Solicitors and Vendors · Ocala Code of Ordinances — landing page · checked 23 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Whether a door-to-door fiber or service rep who takes no payment at the door falls under the 22-344(a)(2) future-delivery exemption or needs the MVL
• If exempt, whether the company or each rep needs a business tax receipt under chapter 62, article III, and the fee
• Current cost of the FDLE criminal history report at the Ocala Police Department

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________