Bloomington, IN Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Yes, from the city controller
- License fee range
- $25 (1 day) to $350 (1 year)
- Application deadline
- 14 days before starting
- Prohibited hours
- Dusk to 8:00 a.m.
- First-offense fine, no license
- $2,500
- Insurance minimum
- $100,000 injury / $25,000 property
Summary
Anyone soliciting door-to-door in the City of Bloomington, whether selling goods, taking orders or collecting contributions, must get a business license from the city controller before starting, under Bloomington Municipal Code § 4.16.030. Chapter 4.16 sets the application, fees, insurance, conduct rules, and hour and location limits solicitors must follow, enforced by the controller's office, the Board of Public Works and the Bloomington Police Department.
4.16.030 - Business license—Required. (a)It is unlawful to locate as a solicitor in the city without first having secured a license to do so as provided by this chapter.(b)This chapter does not apply to any recognized participant of a special event.(c)It is not necessary to obtain a temporary use permit under Chapter 20 of the Bloomington Municipal Code in order to obtain a license to locate as a solicitor under this chapter.
Full Breakdown
040, and must list the applicant's name, address, phone, email and date of birth, the represented firm's information, the products or services offered, the hours of operation, and any prior license revocation. 090. 060 fee schedule; churches, schools, and benevolent or fraternal groups pay no fee if proceeds are charitable, and honorably discharged veterans are fee-exempt under Ind. Code 25-25-2-1. The $25 application fee applies toward the license fee if granted; if denied, $20 is kept to cover the city's review costs. 100); a denial can be appealed to the Board of Public Works within ten days.
130 bars soliciting in city parking lots without board approval, in streets, medians or alleys, within a block of a permitted special event, on properties posted "no solicitation," and on the B-Line Trail outside three named segments. 150 bans amplified pitches, approaches closer than three feet after an objection, and approaching stopped vehicles.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting without the required license carries a $2,500 fine for a first offense, $5,000 for a second within twelve months, and $7,500 for a third or later offense, under § 4.16.160. Other violations of Chapter 4.16, such as ignoring the location or hour restrictions, carry a $250 first-offense fine rising to $500 and $1,000. The Board of Public Works can suspend or revoke a license after notice and hearing, and an enforcement officer may issue a warning before citing a first-time violator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell door-to-door in the City of Bloomington?
What hours can a solicitor knock on doors in Bloomington?
How much does a Bloomington solicitor license cost?
What happens if I solicit in Bloomington without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
Compare Bloomington to another location·View the Indiana 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.