Soliciting & Door-to-Door in Lakewood, WA

Lakewood maintains 133 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with soliciting & door-to-door. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Lakewood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Solicitor Permits

Anyone going door to door in Lakewood, Pierce County, to sell goods or services, take orders, or seek donations must first get a City solicitor or peddler license. Licenses run one year, and any single company or sponsor is capped at 10 licensed solicitors working the city in any 30-day period.

Key details: License required: Before any door-to-door selling or soliciting. License term: One year from issuance. Group cap: 10 solicitors per sponsor per 30 days. Bond: $1,000 individual / $5,000 employer. Background check: Police Chief investigation before issuance.

Soliciting without the required license or bond is enforceable under Title 5's general penalty provision, LMC 5.02.250: a misdemeanor unless a different penalty applies, and separately a civil infraction carrying a $500 fine for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third and each subsequent violation, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. The City may also deny, suspend, or revoke the license for bond, application, or background failures.

No-Knock Registry

Lakewood, Pierce County, requires licensed solicitors and peddlers to honor a posted "No Peddlers" or "No Solicitors" sign at any home, gated complex, apartment, or business, and bars all door-to-door solicitation between 8:00 p.m. (or a half hour after sunset, whichever is earlier) and 9:00 a.m.

Key details: Sign rule: Binds homes, gated complexes, apartments, businesses. Curfew start: 8:00 p.m. or 30 min after sunset, earlier controls. Curfew end: 9:00 a.m.. Applies to: All licensed peddlers and solicitors. Enforcement: License violation, Title 5 penalties.

Soliciting past a posted "No Peddlers"/"No Solicitors" sign or outside the 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. window violates the license conditions in LMC 5.56.060 and is enforceable under Title 5's general penalty, LMC 5.02.250: a misdemeanor and/or a civil infraction of $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third and later violations, with each day of ongoing noncompliance a separate offense. The City can also suspend or revoke the underlying solicitor or peddler license.

The Bottom Line

Lakewood's soliciting & door-to-door rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lakewood is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Lakewood's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.