Redwood City, 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 — an identification permit from the Chief of Police before anyone solicits or peddles in the city, in addition to any business license required (28.3). A solicitor is anyone going house to house selling or taking orders for goods or services for future delivery or performance (28.1). The permit and badge are personal to the rep and not transferable, so one per rep (28.8). The article does not apply to persons under 18 except for street sales from vehicles or pushcarts (28.2).
• Where it comes from: The Chief of Police investigates and issues the identification permit and badge; the application goes in together with the business license application for the occupation of solicitor, and the City Collector issues the business license only after the permit is issued (28.5).
• Fee: Every application carries a nonrefundable processing fee in an amount set by resolution of the City Council (28.4.1). The resolution could not be read, so the amount is not on this card. The business license tax under Chapter 32, Article V is separate (28.5).
• Hours you may knock: The permit is valid only between nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. and six o'clock (6:00) P.M. of any day; meeting someone by appointment at other hours is not barred (28.10).
• What the rep carries: The identification permit, kept on the person and produced on demand of police or of anyone the rep does or proposes to do business with, plus a police-issued identification badge worn on the outside clothing and readily visible at all times while working (28.9).
• What takes the time: A police investigation, which the Chief completes within thirty (30) days of receiving the required information (28.6). The application needs a head-and-shoulders photo taken within sixty days, fingerprints taken by the police, a criminal-conviction statement, employer credentials, and a physician's statement of freedom from communicable disease unless the Chief waives it (28.4).
• Code: City Code of Redwood City, Chapter 28 — Solicitors, Peddlers and Charitable Sales, Article I — Identification Permits (28.1 to 28.12). Municode shows the code codified through Ordinance No. 2561, adopted June 8, 2026 (Supp. No. 61, Update 1).
• Worth knowing: The permit, badge and the business license issued with them are valid for one year, and the permit and badge go back to the Police Department when they expire or are revoked (28.6). Revoking the permit automatically revokes the business license (28.12).
• Read it yourself: Redwood City City Code, Chapter 28 — Solicitors, Peddlers and Charitable Sales · Redwood City City Code, Chapter 32, Article V — Business Licenses · Redwood City City Code — landing page · checked 22 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• The current identification permit processing fee set by council resolution, and the fingerprint cost
• The business license tax category and amount for a door-to-door sales company with reps in the city
• Whether the physician's statement in 28.4(J) is still required or routinely waived

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________