Portsmouth, Virginia: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: No police permit — the Peddlers and Solicitors chapter covers only farm-produce peddlers and charitable solicitation (Ch. 26). What the code does require is a business license: every person peddling goods or who sells any items door-to-door pays a license tax (20-23(a)), and a peddler must apply for a license before beginning business (20-3).
• Where it comes from: The Commissioner of the Revenue, who is the assessing official for city business licenses (20-2). The application is on the Commissioner's forms and the flat tax is paid with it (20-3(b), (c)).
• Fee: $500.00 per year (20-23(a)). A flat tax started after March 1 is prorated by the month (20-6.1). Whether it is owed per rep or once per company is not spelled out; the section says "every person."
• Hours you may knock: None found. Chapter 26 (Peddlers and Solicitors) and Chapter 20 (Licenses) set no knocking hours, and the section list of Chapter 24 (Offenses) shows no door-to-door section.
• What the rep carries: The code sets no carry or badge rule for door-to-door sellers.
• What takes the time: The license application itself. No background check, fingerprinting or bond is required for door-to-door sellers in the chapters read.
• Code: Code of the City of Portsmouth, Chapter 20 — Licenses (20-3, 20-23); Chapter 26 — Peddlers and Solicitors. Municode shows Supplement 65, codified through Ordinance No. 2026-13, enacted February 10, 2026.
• Worth knowing: The license year is the calendar year (20-2). A separate direct-seller license tax applies to a Portsmouth resident who sells consumer products mainly in private homes under a non-employee contract (20-15). A peddler may not park in one spot on the street more than ten minutes (20-23(c)).
• Read it yourself: Portsmouth Code, Chapter 20 — Licenses · Portsmouth Code, Chapter 26 — Peddlers and Solicitors · Portsmouth Code, Chapter 24 — Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions (section list) · Portsmouth Code of Ordinances — Municode landing page · checked 21 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Whether the door-to-door license tax in 20-23 is owed per rep or once per company
• Whether 20-23 covers reps taking orders for a service, such as internet, rather than selling goods
• Whether the city sets any knocking hours outside the code

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________