Richmond, Virginia: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: No general door-to-door solicitor permit was found in the Richmond City Code. What the code has is license taxes: a flat license for canvassers who are not salaried or wage employees of a business already licensed in Richmond (26-975), and a peddler's license for anyone carrying goods place to place and selling them (26-986). The one police permit in this area is for a solicitor of orders for books, magazines or periodicals (26-875, 26-975 b).
• Where it comes from: Richmond City Code Chapter 26, Article XV, License Taxes: Division 2, the schedule by business, and Division 1, the general rules. Licenses come from the Department of Finance.
• Fee: Canvassers, $75.00 flat license tax (26-975 a 1). A solicitor of orders for books, magazines or periodicals, $75.00 plus a $35.00 Chief of Police permit (26-975, 26-875 c). A peddler, hawker or huckster on foot, $300.00, paid in one sum and not prorated (26-986 b). A direct seller with total sales over $5,000.00 pays a $30.00 license fee or a tax on sales (26-971). The Department of Finance's BPOL tax page lists the same flat fee, Peddlers $300, and has no canvasser or solicitor line.
• Hours you may knock: Not set for door-to-door sales. The only business hours in the Peddlers article are 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (6-423), and that article defines a peddler as someone carrying goods in a vehicle (6-418).
• What the rep carries: Nothing is named for canvassers. No badge or ID card rule for door-to-door reps was found in the sections read.
• What takes the time: For most crews, only the license application. A books, magazines or periodicals solicitor first needs the Chief of Police permit, which involves evidence of good character and a reasonable investigation by the Chief (26-875 a).
• Code: Richmond City Code 26-869, 26-875, 26-971, 26-975, 26-986; Chapter 6, Article VIII, Peddlers, 6-418 to 6-427. Municode showed the code as "Version: Feb 18, 2026 (current)" on the day checked. The same host lists Ordinance No. 2026-160, adopted 7/27/26, adopting a new City Code, as not yet codified, so section numbers may change.
• Worth knowing: A company with no definite place of business in Richmond must still get a city license if it is classified as an itinerant merchant or peddler (26-869 a 3). The code's Peddlers article points to Virginia's home solicitation sales law, Code of Virginia 59.1-21.1 et seq., as the state rule for sales made at the home. The solicitation limits in Chapter 19 (19-173) are about asking or begging in public places, not knocking on doors.
• Read it yourself: Richmond City Code Chapter 26, Article XV, Division 2 (26-971, 26-975, 26-986) · Richmond City Code Chapter 26, Article XV, Division 1 (26-869, 26-875) · Richmond City Code Chapter 6, Article VIII, Peddlers · City of Richmond Department of Finance, BPOL Tax · Richmond Code of Ordinances, landing page (ordinances not yet codified) · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Does a for-profit door-to-door crew taking orders for services need any city permit or registration, or only a business license? Which license class does the city put fiber, solar or pest reps in: canvasser, direct seller, or the company's own business license? Are there set hours or a No Soliciting sign rule for residential door-to-door sales? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________