Detroit, MI Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Before operating as itinerant vendor
- Surety bond
- $1,000 required
- Expires
- May 31 every year
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine, 90 days jail
- Exempt
- Street hawkers, vehicle peddlers, charity sales
Summary
Anyone running a temporary or transient sales business in Detroit, using a room, building, or structure for under 120 days, must get an itinerant vendor license from the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department before opening.
(a)It shall be unlawful to conduct or to maintain any business as an itinerant vendor in the City without first having obtained a license from the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department Business License Center to operate such business.(b)The fact that such store or place of business has been or is to be leased for a period less than 120 days shall be in all cases prima facie evidence that the business is of temporary or transient character within the meaning of this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Detroit requires a license from BSEED's Business License Center before anyone operates as an itinerant vendor: defined as a temporary or transient seller who leases or occupies a room, building, or structure to sell goods for no more than 120 days. Applicants file a notarized application, pay a Council-set fee, and post a $1,000 surety bond to cover buyers defrauded by misrepresented merchandise. The license is non-transferable and expires every May 31, regardless of issue date. Pure street hawking, vehicle peddling, sales to dealers, and charity sales are exempted under Section 34-3-3 and fall under separate rules.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license is a misdemeanor; each day of continued operation is a separate violation, punishable by up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a magazine or product seller going door to door need this license?
How much does the itinerant vendor bond cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
Compare Detroit to another location·View the Michigan soliciting & door-to-door overview
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Solicitor Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle solicitor permits.