San Francisco, 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: No door-to-door sales permit was found in the San Francisco codes. The Police Code article list has no peddler, solicitor or canvasser article (Article 9.6 covers charitable solicitation only), and SFPD says it no longer issues peddler permits. The one selling permit in the codes is the Public Works Vendor permit, and it is required to vend "on any City property, including a public right-of-way" (Public Works Code 5.9-3). This rests on reading the article and section lists, not on a city statement, so confirm with the City Clerk Call Sheet before the team knocks.
• Where it comes from: The San Francisco Police Code and Public Works Code on the city's code host, and the San Francisco Police Department Permits page. Public Works issues the Vendor permit (5.9-2, "Permitting Agency").
• Fee: None found for door-to-door sales, because no door-to-door permit was found. The Business and Tax Regulations Code Article 2 license fee list has no peddler, solicitor or canvasser line. The Vendor permit fee is set by a Public Works fee schedule the code tells the department to publish (5.9-5(d)); that schedule was not read.
• Hours you may knock: None found. No section read sets hours for knocking on residential doors. Vendor permits carry their own permitted hours (5.9-6(f)), which applies to vending on City property.
• What the rep carries: Nothing found for door-to-door sales. A permitted Vendor on City property must prominently display the Vendor permit (5.9-3(b)).
• Code: San Francisco Police Code (Articles 13 and 17 section lists read, no peddler or solicitor sections); Public Works Code Article 5.9, Sec. 5.9-3 and 5.9-2, 5.9-5, 5.9-6, 5.9-7; Public Works Code Sec. 184.70. The host says the codes were last updated through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026.
• Worth knowing: Leaving flyers or door hangers: it is unlawful to leave a handbill on a porch, yard, steps, hallway or mailbox of a premises that posts a "No Handbills" sign of at least eight square inches, without the occupant's written permission, and anything left must be folded or placed so the wind cannot blow it away (Public Works Code 184.70(b), (c)). Vendors must register with the Tax Collector under Article 12, Business Registration, if applicable (5.9-6(g)); whether a door-to-door sales company must register was not read.
• Read it yourself: San Francisco Police Department, Permits · San Francisco codes, overview and article lists · Public Works Code Sec. 5.9-3, Permit and Identification Required · Public Works Code Sec. 5.9-2, Definitions · Public Works Code Sec. 5.9-5, Permit Application; Fee · Public Works Code Sec. 5.9-6, Vending Restrictions and Requirements · Public Works Code Sec. 184.70, Distribution of Handbills on Private Premises · Police Code Article 13 (section list) · Police Code Article 17 (section list) · Business and Tax Regulations Code Article 2 (section list) · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Does a for-profit door-to-door sales rep need any city permit or registration in San Francisco? Does Public Works treat a rep walking door to door as a Roaming Vendor under Article 5.9? Are there set hours for residential door-to-door sales? Does the company need a San Francisco business registration certificate to canvass? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________