Brentwood, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Brentwood Municipal Code Chapter 5.28 (or its equivalent solicitor chapter) requires commercial door-to-door solicitors to register with the Brentwood Police Department, submit to a background check, and obtain a Solicitor or Peddler Permit before going door-to-door within the city. Permit fees typically run 50 to 100 dollars per solicitor, with permits valid for a limited period (often 90 days to 1 year). Solicitors must carry the permit visibly while working and present it on request from any resident or officer. Solicitation is permitted only between 9 AM and 8 PM (some cities use sunset as the cutoff). A property owner or resident may post a "No Soliciting" sign at the main entrance, and solicitors must respect it; ignoring such a sign is an infraction and may also support a criminal trespass charge under Penal Code 602. Non-commercial solicitation, including political canvassing, religious witnessing, charitable fundraising by recognized non-profits, and petition circulation, is protected by the First Amendment under Watchtower Bible & Tract Society v. Village of Stratton (2002), and cities cannot require permits for these activities. However, even non-commercial canvassers must respect No Soliciting signs and time-of-day restrictions that are content-neutral. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and school fundraisers are typically treated as charitable and exempt from commercial permit requirements. Complaints about aggressive or unregistered solicitors can be reported to Brentwood Police.