Beloit, WI Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City Clerk, after Chief of Police approval
- Allowed hours
- 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. only
- Background check window
- Convictions within last 5 years
- Permit term
- Calendar year, Jan 1 to Dec 31
- Permit fee
- None
- Appeal deadline
- 5 business days to City Council
Summary
Anyone going door-to-door in the City of Beloit to sell goods, take orders, or solicit donations needs a permit from the City Clerk first. The Chief of Police runs a background check, canvassers must skip homes posting a "No Peddlers" or "No Solicitors" sign, and calls are limited to 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
(3)PERMITS REQUIRED.(a)Door-to-Door Salespersons. No person shall engage in door-to-door sales activities within the City of Beloit without first obtaining a permit to do so unless the person is authorized to do so under a sponsor's permit. A door-to-door sales permit does not authorize a person to engage in outdoor vending. ... (13)REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS.(a)Activities Prohibited by Sign. No permittee shall engage in door-to-door sales activities at any dwelling where a sign is displayed at the entry to the premises or at the entry to the principal building on the premises bearing the words, "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors," or words of similar meaning or nature.(b)Hours of Operation. No permittee shall engage in door-to-door sales activities between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. ... (15)PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to a forfeiture for each violation as provided in §25.04 of this Municipal Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Update 01 - 05-2026).
Full Breakdown
04 requires anyone engaging in door-to-door sales, including charitable solicitation, to hold a door-to-door sales permit unless covered by a sponsor's permit; the permit does not authorize outdoor vending. 014, completed within seven business days. The Chief denies a permit if the application is incomplete or false, or if the applicant (or a sponsored canvasser) was convicted within the last five years of a crime or ordinance violation substantially related to door-to-door sales or vending. 42 are exempt from the permit itself but must still follow the operating rules.
Permits run for a calendar year, January 1 to December 31, and there is no permit fee. A denial can be appealed in writing to the City Council within five business days at no cost. Permittees must carry the permit and show it on request to a police officer or to anyone they solicit, and cannot misrepresent the purpose of their visit, their sponsor, or how proceeds will be used.
Violations & Fines
Canvassing a home displaying a "No Peddlers" or "No Solicitors" sign, working outside the 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. curfew, refusing to leave when the occupant asks, or misrepresenting the sale violates § 14.04(13). Any violation carries a forfeiture under § 25.04 of the Municipal Code, and the Chief of Police can suspend or revoke a permit on the same grounds used to deny one, with notice mailed to the permittee's address and a right to appeal to the City Council within 10 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell door-to-door in Beloit?
Can a homeowner block solicitors from their door?
What hours can canvassers knock on doors?
Is a charity soliciting donations exempt from the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Beloit
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Solicitor Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Rock County handle solicitor permits.