Burien, WA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: No-Knock Registry (2026)
Key Facts
- Peddling and transient sales ban
- 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Ice cream vending ban
- 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Sign that stops sales
- "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors," or words to that effect
- Base license fee
- $100.00 per endorsement (BMC 5.10.030(3))
- License year
- August 1 through July 31
- Maximum penalty
- 90 days in jail, $1,000 fine, or both
Summary
In the City of Burien, Washington, a peddler or transient sales representative cannot sell between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m., and cannot sell at any home or business with a clearly posted "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors," or similar sign. Ice cream vendors have a separate cutoff of 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. under BMC 5.10.100(4).
(4) Hours and Notice. (a) No person shall engage in the business of ice cream vending between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. (b) No person shall engage in the business of peddling or transient sales between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. or at any residence or business that has a clearly posted sign stating “No Peddlers,” “No Solicitors,” or words to that effect.
Full Breakdown
Burien handles door-to-door sales through its special activities license chapter, BMC Chapter 5.10, adopted by the Burien City Council. Section 5.10.100(4) sets the hours and the notice rule. Peddling and transient sales are banned from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m., and they are banned at any residence or business that has a clearly posted sign stating "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors," or words to that effect. Ice cream vending has its own window: it is banned from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.
The sign is the notice mechanism. A homeowner or business in Burien does not file anything with the city: the posted sign alone triggers the prohibition, and the code accepts any wording to that effect.
Who counts as a peddler is defined in BMC 5.10.010(12): anyone, principal or agent, employer or employee, who sells or offers goods or services by going from house to house or from place to place or by indiscriminately approaching individuals. Sales by sample or for future delivery are included.
Peddlers in Burien are prohibited unless they hold a license and follow BMC 5.10.100 (BMC 5.10.020(1)). The base fee for a single endorsement is $100.00 under BMC 5.10.030(3), and the license year runs from August 1 through the following July 31 (BMC 5.10.120). The city clerk sends each application to the police department for a criminal history background investigation, and the clerk denies the permit for fraud, for a relevant misdemeanor or felony conviction within the previous 10 years, or for a false or misleading statement on the application. Under BMC 5.10.100(3), no peddler has an exclusive right to a street location or a stationary location, and a police officer's good-faith judgment is conclusive on whether an area is congested.
BMC 5.10.020(1) exempts some sellers from the licensing requirements and the other regulations in BMC 5.10.100: farmers selling what they grew, newspaper carriers, tax-exempt charitable, religious or nonprofit organizations, youth fund-raisers for athletic, scouting or educational groups, and anyone a potential buyer specifically requested to visit or call.
Violations & Fines
BMC 5.10.150 applies the general penalty provisions of BMC 5.05.200 to special activity licenses. Under BMC 5.05.200(3)(d), a violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Under BMC 5.05.200(3)(b), a business operating in Burien without the required license is declared a nuisance and is subject to the nuisance enforcement provisions of the code. A license can also be suspended or revoked as provided in the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop door-to-door sellers at my Burien home?
What hours can peddlers work in Burien?
Does a No Solicitors sign stop charities or people I invited?
What happens to a peddler who ignores the hours or the sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burien
Compare Burien to another location·View the Washington soliciting & door-to-door overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
No-Knock Registry in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle no-knock registry.