Tacoma, Washington: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes. A door-to-door soliciting license, per person, with a city photo ID card. It is unlawful to solicit door to door without it (6B.170.010), and "soliciting" covers offering goods or services for sale from place to place, including alarm monitoring and subscriptions (6B.170.020). The employer is responsible for licensing every rep (6B.170.070).
• Where it comes from: Tacoma Municipal Code Chapter 6B.170, Sales – Door-To-Door Soliciting. Issued by the Finance Department, Tax & License Division, 747 Market St #220, with Police Department review. The city's Door to Door Soliciting page links the application.
• Fee: $90 per license for a six-month term (6B.170.030). The city's License Fees page lists the same $90. The city's guide also lists a city business license if the rep is a subcontractor; that cost is separate.
• Hours you may knock: Not published. Chapter 6B.170 sets no knocking hours.
• What the rep carries: The city-issued door-to-door soliciting identification card, on the person, shown on request to a resident or public official (6B.170.050).
• What takes the time: Fingerprinting for a state and federal criminal background check on the first application and at least every four years, plus a full-face photo (6B.170.060). All licenses must be obtained ten days before soliciting starts (6B.170.070); the city page says the application must be in at least ten business days ahead. Groups of 4 or more are told to call ahead to apply together.
• Code: Tacoma Municipal Code 6B.170.010 to 6B.170.070. Latest amendment shown on the chapter: Ord. 29045, 2025-07-01.
• Worth knowing: The Director may deny a license for a felony conviction within seven years or certain misdemeanors within three years (6B.170.065). Exempt: people holding a Washington state license that itself required fingerprinting and a background check, for the service being sold (6B.170.040).
• Read it yourself: Tacoma Municipal Code Chapter 6B.170 · City of Tacoma Door to Door Soliciting page · City of Tacoma Business License Fees page · City of Tacoma guide: Sales, Door-to-Door Soliciting · checked 18 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down: Are there set hours for door-to-door sales, or a no-soliciting sign rule, outside Chapter 6B.170? How long is the police review running right now? Does each rep also need a city business license, or only subcontractors? Clerk’s name ______________   Direct line ______________   Date called ______________