El Cajon, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License Tax
- $2 per day
- Bond Required
- $1,000 surety bond
- Code Reference
- ECMC Ch. 5.04 and 5.08
- Must Carry License
- Yes: present on request
- Exemptions
- Religious, political, some nonprofits
Summary
El Cajon requires solicitors, peddlers, and itinerant merchants to obtain a business license under ECMC Title 5 Chapters 5.04 and 5.08. The license tax is two dollars per day. A surety bond of one thousand dollars is required before a license is issued.
602. Except as provided in subdivisions (u), (v), and (x), and Section 602.8, a person who willfully commits a trespass by any of the following acts is guilty of a misdemeanor: (a) Cutting down, destroying, or injuring any kind of wood or timber standing or growing upon the lands of another. (b) Carrying away any kind of wood or timber lying on those lands. (c) Maliciously injuring or severing from the freehold of another anything attached to it, or its produce. (d) Digging, taking, or carrying away from a lot situated within the limits of an incorporated city, without the license of the owner or legal occupant, any earth, soil, or stone.
Full Breakdown
The City of El Cajon regulates solicitors and peddlers through ECMC Title 5 Chapters 5.04 (Business Licenses) and 5.08 (Peddlers, Solicitors, and Itinerant Merchants). Before any license is issued, the applicant must file a bond in the sum of one thousand dollars with a surety company possessing a Certificate of Authority from the California Insurance Commissioner. The license tax is two dollars per day. Licensed solicitors must carry their license while working and present it upon request. Certain activities require a Special Operation License under ECMC Chapter 5.16 in addition to the basic business license. First Amendment-protected activities such as religious outreach and political canvassing are exempt from licensing requirements. Non-profit charitable solicitation may be subject to different provisions.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting without a license is a misdemeanor under the El Cajon Municipal Code. Violations are enforced by the El Cajon Police Department. Repeat violations may result in escalating fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a solicitor's license in El Cajon?
Is the bond refundable?
What businesses are exempt from solicitor licensing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Cajon
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