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

Fairfield Municipal Code Chapter 5B (Solicitors, Peddlers, and Itinerant Merchants) requires a permit issued by the Director of Public Safety (Fairfield Police Department) before any person may conduct the business of soliciting, peddling, or itinerant merchandising within the city. Section 5B.2 makes it unlawful to engage in such activity without a valid permit. Applications must be filed at least 30 days prior to the proposed date of conducting the business activity (§5B.3). The application must include: the name and address of the company or firm for which orders are to be secured; the name and address of the nearest local or state manager; and the kind of goods, wares, or merchandise to be delivered. An initial permit is valid until January 31 of the year following issuance; renewals are valid for one-year periods running from January 31. A peddler may operate in one general location no longer than 30 minutes before moving to another location. Fees are set by City Council resolution. The chapter is limited by Watchtower Bible & Tract Society v. Village of Stratton, 536 U.S. 150 (2002), which held that requiring permits for non-commercial door-to-door advocacy (religious, political, or other First Amendment-protected canvassing) violates the First Amendment — Fairfield's permit requirement applies only to commercial solicitation. Residents may post 'No Solicitors' signs; Chapter 5B and California Penal Code §602.1(b) make ignoring a posted refusal a citable trespass.