Cincinnati, OH Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Chapter 839 defines a 'peddler' as anyone who goes door-to-door, place-to-place, or city-to-city selling goods, wares, food, confectionery, drink, or other commodities by hand, portable stand, table, or vehicle (§ 839-1-P). Section 839-5 makes it unlawful to engage in the trade of peddler without first obtaining both a license and an identification card from the city treasurer; the license must stay displayed conspicuously on the peddler's stand, cart, or container, and the ID card must be worn affixed to the peddler's outer garment at all times, the card itself is not a license.

Section 839-9 requires each applicant to file a treasurer application, furnish two photographs taken within the prior 30 days for the ID card, and, if selling food or beverage, exhibit the required board of health permit. A licensee who loses the ID card must file a sworn affidavit, or a police theft report if stolen, and pay $25 for a replacement, submitting two new photographs again. Section 839-7 sets the minimum license fee at $150 per year, extendable to the next quarterly cutoff (the end of March, June, September, or December) for 50 cents per additional calendar day.

Chapter 839 exempts several categories from these licensing requirements, including commercial-traveler sales to dealers, sample sales for future delivery, trade-show sales, Chapter 863 street solicitations, city market sales under Chapter 845, event ticket sales under Chapter 840, and approved Neighborhood Farmers Market Project sites (§ 839-3).