Palm Coast's Soliciting & Door-to-Door: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles soliciting & door-to-door a little differently. In Palm Coast, Florida, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Solicitor Permits

Door-to-door solicitors and peddlers in Palm Coast must get a license from the City Manager before going house to house, per Sec. 35-163(a). Applicants submit a sworn application with fingerprints and a Level II FDLE background check, pay an administrative fee, and receive a license valid for up to 12 months.

Key details: License required before selling: Sec. 35-163(a), door-to-door or place-to-place. Background check: Level II FDLE check via CWCS/CAPS. License term: Up to 12 months. ID badge: Worn and visible at all times. Denial grounds: Moral turpitude, fraud, unpaid business tax.

Soliciting door-to-door without a license is punished under F.S. § 501.055 and F.S. ch. 775 per Sec. 35-171(a). Violating any other provision of the licensing division, including failing to exhibit the license badge on demand under Sec. 35-166, is a misdemeanor under Sec. 35-171(b): up to $1,000 and 60 days in jail. The City Manager may suspend a license up to 90 days, and the Hearing Officer may revoke it after notice and a hearing.

This is one of the stricter rules in Palm Coast's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

No-Knock Registry

Palm Coast's peddler ordinance bars licensed solicitors from knocking or ringing a bell at any home posting a "No Peddler or Solicitors" sign, under Sec. 35-168(b). The same section shuts down all door-to-door sales, promotions or solicitations citywide between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., regardless of any sign.

Key details: No-soliciting sign: Bars knocking or bell-ringing, Sec. 35-168(b). Door-to-door hours: Barred 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.. Disclosure duty: Must name company/org on request. Harassment while soliciting: Separately unlawful, Sec. 35-168(e). Misdemeanor penalty: Up to $1,000 fine, 60 days jail.

Violating the door-to-door rules is a misdemeanor under Sec. 35-171(b): up to a $1,000 fine plus prosecution costs, up to 60 days in jail, or both, at the court's discretion. The City Manager can also suspend a license for up to 90 days under Sec. 35-169, or the Hearing Officer can revoke it after a hearing under Sec. 35-170.

The Bottom Line

Palm Coast'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 Palm Coast is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Palm Coast's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.