Port St. Lucie, Florida: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes. Every commercial solicitor needs a permit, which is an identification card issued per person through the Police Department (112.20, 112.24).
• Where it comes from: Port St. Lucie Code Chapter 112, Panhandling and Commercial Solicitors, rewritten by Ord. No. 23-84 in February 2024. The "licensing official" is the City's Police Department (112.01). Applications go in person to the Police Department Records Section.
• Fee: $20 per application, non-refundable, per the Police Department's Solicitors Permit page. Cash or money order only. The code itself names no amount; it authorizes the Police Department to set a reasonable fee (112.25).
• Hours you may knock: 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. is the code's "reasonable time for uninvited solicitation" (112.10). No soliciting within 500 feet of school property on school days between 7:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. (112.10).
• What the rep carries: The permit (identification card) with the rep's photo. It must be carried on the person and shown on request to any police officer, deputy or person being solicited (112.24, 112.29).
• What takes the time: Sworn application, a current photo and fingerprints submitted to FDLE (112.21). The police chief's investigation is allowed a maximum of fifteen business days (112.22). The Police Department processes permits Monday to Friday, 8-10 a.m. and 2-4 p.m., and asks for a driver's license, a company business card and a 2x2 photo.
• Code: Port St. Lucie Code of Ordinances, Title XI, Chapter 112 (112.01 to 112.99), Ord. No. 23-84, adopted Feb. 12, 2024. Municode shows the online version as "Jul 31, 2026 (current)."
• Worth knowing: A posted no-soliciting sign bars entry without the owner's prior consent (112.06). The permit card itself states the holder may not go to back or rear doors (112.24). The code says permits expire one year from issue (112.27); the Police Department page says the permit is valid until September 30th of every year. Ask which one they apply. A violation can be fined up to $500.00 for a first offense (112.99). Separate from the city: Florida law makes it unlawful to conduct a home solicitation sale without a state home solicitation sale permit, applied for with the clerk of the circuit court for the county, with fingerprints and two color photos (F.S. 501.022). The statute lists exclusions, including sales by sample, catalog or brochure for future delivery. Read it against how your reps sell.
• Read it yourself: Port St. Lucie Code Chapter 112, Panhandling and Commercial Solicitors · Port St. Lucie Police Department, Solicitors Permit · Florida Statutes 501.022 · checked 18 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Does the permit run one year from issue (112.27) or expire every September 30 as the Police Department page says? Is the $20 fee per rep, and is there a separate fingerprinting charge? Can a manager submit packets for a whole crew at once, or must each rep appear in person? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________