The Columbia Municipal Code regulates door-to-door commercial peddlers and solicitors and includes a separate provision for charitable solicitors. A city permit is required before any door-to-door commercial solicitation. The City Recorder and Columbia Police Department administer the application, which includes a background check. Religious, political, and charitable canvassing is constitutionally protected and exempt from the commercial-solicitor permit, but must respect 'No Soliciting' signs.
The Columbia Municipal Code (published by Tennessee MTAS as the city's official codification) contains the Peddlers/Solicitors regulations and the Charitable Solicitors provisions. Commercial applicants must file with the City Recorder, submit ID and photographs, undergo a Columbia Police background check, and pay the city permit fee. The permit must be carried on the person and displayed on request. Solicitation hours are limited to daylight hours and generally exclude Sundays. Solicitation at any property posted with a 'No Soliciting' or 'No Trespassing' sign is prohibited, and is enforceable as criminal trespass under T.C.A. § 39-14-405 after notice. Charitable solicitors register under the separate Columbia chapter — typically requiring proof of nonprofit status. Report unlicensed solicitors to the Columbia Police Department non-emergency line (931-388-2727).
Soliciting without a permit, soliciting outside permitted hours, soliciting at posted properties, or misrepresenting the goods/charity is a municipal violation subject to fines under Columbia's general penalty schedule. Repeat or aggravated violations can result in permit revocation and state-law trespass charges.
See how Columbia's solicitor permits rules stack up against other locations.
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