Orange, California: door-to-door solicitor permit

Partly read: the permit answer is sourced, but the fee or the hours could not be read from the city’s own pages. The clerk questions below cover the gap.

• The answer: Yes. Every person selling or soliciting orders for goods, wares, merchandise or services house to house, place to place, or on the streets needs a Certificate of Identification before starting (5.66.010).
• Where it comes from: Orange Municipal Code Chapter 5.66 (Solicitors). Applications go to the Business Services Coordinator; the Chief of Police fingerprints, photographs and investigates each applicant (5.66.010, 5.66.020).
• Fee: The code sets no dollar figure — each application is accompanied by "a permit fee in such amount as is established from time to time by resolution of the City Council" (5.66.100). The current resolution amount was not found on a primary source this session.
• Hours you may knock: Not found. Chapter 5.66 sets no knocking-hours restriction, and no separate hours ordinance for commercial door-to-door solicitation was located.
• What the rep carries: The Certificate of Identification must stay on the rep's person at all times while soliciting, and be shown to anyone solicited or to any peace officer on request (5.66.040).
• What takes the time: Fingerprinting and photographing by the Chief of Police, with the applicant paying the amount set by the State for processing the fingerprints (no dollar figure in the code), plus an investigation for a felony or any crime substantially related to the business (5.66.020). The code sets no processing deadline.
• Code: Orange Municipal Code 5.66.010 through 5.66.100 (Solicitors). The host says the code includes legislation through Ord. No. 01-26 adopted January 27, 2026.
• Worth knowing: A conviction for any felony, a Business and Professions Code §17500 violation, a crime of moral turpitude, or a prior violation of this chapter is grounds to deny or revoke the certificate (5.66.030).
• Read it yourself: Orange Municipal Code Chapter 5.66 Solicitors · Orange Municipal Code Table of Contents · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: The current Certificate of Identification fee under the Council's fee resolution; Whether there are set knocking hours for commercial solicitors; How long the police background check and certificate issuance take. Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________