Elk Grove, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

EGMC Section 4.04.010 makes it unlawful for any business to engage in solicitation activities without first obtaining a solicitation license from the Chief of Police, and unlawful for any individual working for that business to solicit without a separate solicitor permit. The Finance Director accepts license applications and forwards them to the Chief of Police for the same background investigation used for special business licenses under EGMC Section 4.10.035; a license can be denied in writing if an owner, partner, officer or manager has an unexpunged conviction for a crime involving dishonesty, fraud or deceit and the Chief finds a substantial risk to the public (EGMC 4.04.030).

Conditions attach automatically to every license: between November 1 and February 28, solicitation is confined to 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily (10:00 a.m. start on Sundays); between March 1 and October 31 the window runs 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (again 10:00 a.m. on Sundays). Every solicitor must display the City-issued permit at all times and produce it to any law enforcement officer on demand, and no solicitor may knowingly approach a residence displaying a sign refusing solicitors in letters one inch or larger (EGMC 4.04.035).

Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Little League and similar youth groups, established delivery routes, charitable nonprofit fundraisers, and political or legislative canvassers are exempted from the whole chapter (EGMC 4.04.015). Licenses and permits run one year and are renewed through the Finance Director, who mails a renewal application 45 days before expiration (EGMC 4.02.120, 4.04.050).