San Bernardino, California: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes. Anyone acting as a solicitor, as Title 5 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code defines it, must get a Business Registration Certificate from the City Clerk's office, and separately get an identification and registration card from the City Police Department. Both are per person.
• Where it comes from: The city's own Important Business Regulations page, under "Solicitors," and the Business Registration Certificate rules in Municipal Code Chapter 5.04. The certificate comes from the Finance Department / City Clerk; the ID and registration card comes from the Police Department.
• Fee: Not a fixed number in the code. The Business Registration Certificate fee "shall be set from time to time by Resolution of the Mayor and City Council," and the police ID/registration card "requires a fee" with no amount given on the city's own regulations page (909-384-5742 for current figures). The city's Master Fee Schedule has no line item for a solicitor or peddler permit.
• Hours you may knock: Not published. Chapter 5.04 sets no knocking-hours restriction for solicitors, and no separate solicitor-hours section was found in the code.
• What the rep carries: The identification and registration card issued by the Police Department, since the city requires every solicitor to obtain one before soliciting.
• What takes the time: Not published. The city directs applicants to call the Police Department at 909-384-5742 for scheduled processing times.
• Code: San Bernardino Municipal Code Title 5, Chapter 5.04 (Business Registration), current through Ord. MC-1666 (passed 8-5-2026).
• Read it yourself: City of San Bernardino, Important Business Regulations · San Bernardino Municipal Code 5.04.030 · City of San Bernardino Master Fee Schedule · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: What is the Business Registration Certificate fee for a solicitor, and is it per rep or per company? What does the Police Department ID/registration card cost, and how long does it take to issue? Are there city knocking hours for solicitors, or does the code set none? Is a background check or fingerprinting required for the police card? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________