Chapel Hill, NC Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required from
- Town manager or designee
- Applications filed at
- Office of the chief of police
- Permit period
- Up to 60 days, renewable
- Deposit
- $10.00, refundable on return
- Processing fee
- Up to $5 new, $2 renewal
- General penalty
- $50 fine or 30 days jail
- Exempt
- Nonprofits, political/religious canvassing, pre-orders
Summary
In the Town of Chapel Hill, anyone selling goods or soliciting orders door-to-door for commercial purposes must first get a permit from the town manager under Town Code § 13-2. Applications go through the Chapel Hill Police Department, run up to 60 days, and require a $10 refundable deposit plus a background disclosure under §§ 13-3 and 13-5.
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate door-to-door selling of goods and services and solicitation of orders therefor, and to thereby promote the public health, safety and welfare. ... No person shall for commercial purposes sell, or solicit orders for, goods and services by going from door to door or from place to place without prior appointments with the residents or occupants thereof, without first having obtained a permit therefor from the town manager or manager's designee. ... (6)The period for which the application is sought, which shall not exceed sixty (60) consecutive calendar days; provided, that the permit may be renewed for sixty-day periods without limit, upon proper application therefor. ... (b)As a condition for receiving a permit, the applicant shall leave a deposit of ten dollars ($10.00), refundable upon return of the permit to the office of the chief of police upon expiration of the permit.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 13 of the Chapel Hill Code of Ordinances regulates door-to-door selling and solicitation of orders to protect public health, safety and welfare under Sec. 13-1. Sec. 13-2 requires anyone selling or soliciting orders for goods or services commercially, going door to door or place to place without a prior appointment, to first obtain a permit from the town manager or the manager's designee. Applications are filed with the office of the chief of police and must include the applicant's name and permanent address, any temporary local address, the employer or organization involved, the goods or services offered, a period sought of up to 60 consecutive calendar days (renewable without limit under Sec.
13-3), a ten-year criminal history disclosure, and identifying details such as age, height and weight. Under Sec. 13-4, the town manager or designee must deny an application that is incomplete, contains false information, involves an applicant not legally permitted to engage in the activity, or was submitted by someone convicted of a felony within the preceding ten years or of a theft, fraud or moral-turpitude misdemeanor within the preceding five years; a denial can be appealed to the town council within 10 days. Sec. 13-5 sets a $10 refundable deposit and lets the manager charge up to $5 for processing a new application and up to $2 for a renewal, and requires the permit holder to carry the permit plus photo identification.
Sec. 13-7 lets the manager revoke a permit on 48 hours' written notice and a hearing, also appealable to the council within 10 days. Sec. 13-8 exempts pre-ordered deliveries, petition circulation, political or religious canvassing, and nonprofit sales or solicitation.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 13 sets no specific fine, so a violation, such as soliciting door-to-door without the Sec. 13-2 permit, falls under the Code's general penalty at Sec. 1-7: a fine of up to $50 or imprisonment for up to 30 days, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The town manager can also deny or revoke the permit itself under Secs. 13-4 and 13-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
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