Fort Myers, FL Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- solicitors, canvassers, peddlers
- Investigation fee
- $16.00 (§ 18-364)
- Non-resident bond
- $1,000.00 (§ 18-367)
- Issued by
- license inspector and chief of police
- General penalty
- up to $500 fine, 60 days jail
Summary
Fort Myers requires door-to-door solicitors, canvassers, and peddlers to secure a license from the license inspector and police department, complete a background check with fingerprints and photograph, and post a $1,000 bond if based outside the city.
It shall be unlawful for any solicitor or canvasser to engage in such business within the corporate limits of the city without first obtaining a license therefor in compliance with the provisions of this division.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Fort Myers Code of Ordinances § 18-363 makes it unlawful for any solicitor or canvasser to work within the city without a license issued under Chapter 18, Division 3. Applicants file with the license inspector, are photographed and fingerprinted by the police department, and pay a $16.00 investigation fee under § 18-364. The chief of police must find the applicant's character and business responsibility satisfactory before a license issues. Non-residents, or residents representing an out-of-state firm, must also post a $1,000.00 surety bond under § 18-367. Door-to-door peddlers selling goods directly are licensed under the parallel scheme in Division 2, §§ 18-332: 18-339.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting or peddling without a license violates § 18-363 (or § 18-333 for peddlers); as a general Code violation it carries a minimum $135 fine, up to $500 and 60 days in jail under § 1-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do door-to-door salespeople need a permit in Fort Myers?
What happens if you solicit without a license in Fort Myers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
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Solicitor Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle solicitor permits.