Vacaville, California: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a peddler's license, per person, from the chief of police (9.18.030, 9.18.050). The code's "peddling" covers selling or taking orders for goods or services for present or future delivery, house to house (9.18.020), so an order-taking rep is a peddler here. The city's business license page calls it the Solicitor's (Peddler's) Permit and says the business license must be approved before applying.
• Where it comes from: Vacaville Municipal Code Chapter 9.18, Peddlers and Solicitors. The permit is issued by the Police Department, 630 Merchant St, (707) 449-5229, per the city's Business Licenses - Additional Resources page.
• Fee: $45 — the city's Fiscal Year 2026-27 Service and Facility Rental Fees schedule lists "Solicitor's/Peddler/Vendor Permit $45" under Police Services. The code says fees are set by council resolution and apply to individuals, not firms (9.18.080), so that is per rep. The same schedule lists Fingerprinting Livescan at $48 plus DOJ fee; the permit row does not say whether fingerprinting is included.
• Hours you may knock: Chapter 9.18 sets no knocking hours. Its conduct rules cover shouting, written orders and giving your name and company on request (9.18.130), not time of day.
• What the rep carries: The license, on the person at all times while working, shown on demand to anyone solicited or to any police officer or city employee (9.18.120). It is personal and not transferable. A rep must also sign their name on request so an officer can compare it to the license (9.18.130(B)).
• What takes the time: Fingerprinting at the police department, with prints sent to the FBI and the California Department of Justice (9.18.100), two photographs no larger than two inches square (9.18.090), and the chief's investigation of character and business responsibility (9.18.110). The code gives no deadline. The city's page says the business license must be approved first.
• Code: Vacaville Municipal Code 9.18.010 to 9.18.170 (Ord. 1696, 2003; amended by Ord. 1758, 2006, Ord. 1874, 2014 and Ord. 1881, 2015), read on eCode360.
• Worth knowing: No peddling or soliciting at any residence posted "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors," "No Trespassing" or similar words (9.18.160). Orders for future delivery must be written in duplicate with the item, quantity, price and amount due, and one copy goes to the customer (9.18.130(C)). Non-profit organizations are outside the license requirement but still bound by the conduct and sign rules (9.18.040).
• Read it yourself: Vacaville Municipal Code Chapter 9.18, Peddlers and Solicitors · City of Vacaville Fiscal Year 2026-27 Service and Facility Rental Fees · City of Vacaville Business Licenses - Additional Resources · City of Vacaville User Fees · checked 19 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• Is the $45 permit fee per rep, and is Livescan fingerprinting charged on top of it?
• How long does the police investigation take before a license issues?
• How long is a peddler's license good for before it has to be renewed?
• Does the city set any hours for door-to-door sales anywhere outside Chapter 9.18?

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________