Franklin, TN Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- Required before soliciting door-to-door
- Issued by
- Revenue and licensing manager
- Screening
- Police background investigation
- Term
- Expires 1 year from issuance
- Exempt
- Wholesalers, newsboys, charities
Summary
Franklin requires peddlers, solicitors, and itinerant merchants to obtain an individual city permit before going door-to-door, issued only after a police background investigation.
It shall be unlawful for any peddler, solicitor, or itinerant merchant to ply his or her trade within the corporate limits without first obtaining a permit in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. A permit shall be issued to an individual only. No permit shall be used at any time by any person other than the one to whom it is issued.(2)Exemptions. Except as may be required in chapter 3 of this title, the terms of this chapter shall not be applicable to persons selling at wholesale to dealers, nor to newsboys, nor to bona fide merchants who merely deliver goods in the regular course of business, nor to sellers responding to a prior invitation by the owner or occupant of a residence, nor to bona fide charitable, religious, patriotic or philanthropic organizations, nor to a person receiving authorization to ply his or her trade under a special event permit.(3)Violation and penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter, or filing, or causing to be filed, an application for a permit or certificate under this chapter containing false or fraudulent statements shall be fined as specified in appendix A, comprehensive fees and penalties. Each solicitation that occurs in violation of this chapter shall be deemed a separate offense. (1976 Code, § 5-202; Ord. No. 2004-68, 12- -2004; Ord. No. 2009-39, § I, 7-28-2009)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Title 9, chapter 2 makes it unlawful for any peddler, solicitor, or itinerant merchant to ply their trade in Franklin without first obtaining a permit (§ 9-202). Applicants file a sworn application with the city recorder including a description, photos, local references, and any criminal history (§ 9-203); the chief of police investigates and the revenue and licensing manager issues or denies the permit within about ten business days (§ 9-204). Permits are non-transferable, expire after one year, and require a surety bond (§ 9-206, § 9-213). Wholesalers, newsboys, and charitable or religious solicitors are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting without a permit, or filing a false application, draws a fine under the city's fee schedule, and each unlawful solicitation is a separate offense; permits can also be revoked for fraud or misconduct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do door-to-door salespeople need a permit in Franklin, Tennessee?
Who is exempt from Franklin's solicitor permit requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin
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