Avondale, AZ Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 13-165, 13-167, 13-168
- Application review time
- 5 business days by city clerk
- Background check
- Run by Avondale Office of Public Safety
- Permit term
- Expires Dec. 31, renew by Jan. 31
- Minimum age
- 18 years old
- Civil penalty
- Up to $2,500 per violation
Summary
Avondale requires every peddler and solicitor to carry a city permit and identification card before knocking on a single door, per City Code Sec. 13-165. Getting one means a background check by the Avondale Office of Public Safety, a photo ID card, and disclosure of any relevant felony record within the last five years.
13-165 - Permit requirements. No person shall act as a peddler or solicitor within the city limits without first obtaining from the city a permit and identification card in accordance with this chapter. A canvasser is not required to have a permit or identification card but any canvasser wanting an identification card for the purpose of reassuring city residents of the canvasser's good faith shall be issued one upon request. ... (d)Background check. Each individual applicant, and every officer, director, general partner, managing member and other person with authority to participate directly and regularly in the management of the applicant's business, employee and agent of an applicant who will be conducting the permitted activity, shall undergo a background check conducted by the Avondale Office of Public Safety. An applicant for a permit issued under this chapter shall pay an amount necessary to cover the costs of the background check.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 13-165 makes it unlawful for anyone to act as a peddler or solicitor within city limits without first obtaining a permit and identification card; canvassers are exempt from the permit itself but may request an ID card. The application, filed with the city clerk under Sec. 13-167, must include the applicant's name, address, birth date, physical description and photographs, the employer's contact information, the vehicle used, any aliases used in the past five years, and whether the applicant has a felony conviction for fraud, dishonesty, deceit, theft, assaultive conduct or sexual misconduct within five years.
Every individual applicant, officer, or conducting employee must undergo a background check run by the Avondale Office of Public Safety, paid for by the applicant and non-refundable even if the application is withdrawn or denied (Sec. 13-167(d)). The clerk must grant or deny the application within five business days, or it is automatically denied. Sec. 13-168 disqualifies anyone under 18, anyone with a disqualifying felony conviction in the last five years, or anyone denied or revoked in the prior six months. Permits expire December 31 each year and must be renewed by January 31 (Sec.
13-169); the ID card must be carried and displayed to any police officer or city official on request (Sec. 13-171). Newspaper subscription sales, public utility employees, government payments, and Scout or school fundraising are exempt (Sec. 13-166).
Violations & Fines
The city clerk may suspend a permit for up to 60 days, or revoke it outright, for a felony conviction, a knowingly false statement, or any other violation of the chapter (Sec. 13-172(a)). A denial, suspension or revocation can be appealed to the city manager within 10 days (Sec. 13-173). Operating without the required permit is a civil, non-criminal violation carrying a penalty of up to $2,500 per violation (Sec. 13-175(c)); intentional or repeat violations are prosecuted as a class 2 misdemeanor (Sec. 13-175(d)-(e)), with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do canvassers need a permit to go door-to-door in Avondale?
What disqualifies someone from getting an Avondale solicitor permit?
How long does an Avondale peddler or solicitor permit last?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Avondale
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