Columbia County, GA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Chapter 22, Article VII bars two related activities without a permit: Sec. 22-130(a) requires any peddler, defined in Sec. 22-129 as someone with no permanent county place of business who sells goods or services by going place to place, to get a license first, and Sec. 22-130(b) separately requires a permit for anyone soliciting magazine or other subscriptions. The article expressly does not reach political campaigning, religious material, or unpopular-cause fundraising under Sec. 22-128. Sec. 22-131 requires a sworn application with 21 items: the applicant's name, permanent and local addresses and phone numbers, birth date, Social Security or federal ID number, corporate officer and principal-representative details, the type of merchandise, the days and hours of business, the Georgia sales tax number, each vehicle's license tag, and every city the applicant peddled in over the prior 12 months.

Sec. 22-132 requires the development services director to act within 45 days of a complete application, with written reasons for any denial, and every permit expires no later than December 31 of the year issued. Sec. 22-133 requires the permit displayed with a color photo at all times, and Sec. 22-134 bars transferring it to anyone else. Sec. 00 for one continuous stretch of business in a calendar year, though a higher fee elsewhere in the code controls if it applies. Sec. 22-136 requires a Georgia registered agent within the county for service of process, waived for Georgia-chartered corporations and out-of-state corporations registered with the Georgia secretary of state under Sec. 22-137. Sec. , and Sec. 22-139 lets the Sheriff's Office inspect any permitted business during regular hours.