Gainesville, FL Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- None; business tax receipt instead
- Peddler tax
- $55.13
- Hours
- 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., residential
- No Solicitors sign
- Binding on peddlers and canvassers
- Group size
- No more than two at once
Summary
Gainesville does not issue a door-to-door solicitor permit. Peddlers need a city business tax receipt instead, and both peddlers and canvassers must stop work in residential areas by 7:00 p.m. and not restart before 9:00 a.m.
501.022 Home solicitation sale; permit required. — (1)(a) It is unlawful for any person to conduct any home solicitation sale, as defined in s. 501.021, or to supervise excluded minors conducting such sales provided in s. 501.021(7), in this state without first obtaining a home solicitation sale permit from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Such permit shall be obtained prior to commencing business in this state and shall be renewed annually thereafter. (b) Each application for a home solicitation sale permit shall be in writing under oath to the department on a form to be furnished by the department and shall set forth the following information.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 19, article II covers peddlers and canvassers, and there is no permit or badge scheme. Section 19-19 instead routes peddlers to the business tax receipt requirements in chapter 25, article III, where the schedule in section 25-51 sets a peddler at $55.13 and a peddler food cart at $110.25. Section 19-17 supplies the conduct rules: activity in residential areas ends at 7:00 p.m. and cannot resume before 9:00 a.m.; a posted “No Solicitors” or “No Solicitation” sign is binding; no more than two peddlers or canvassers may contact one person at a time; and they must leave peaceably when asked.
Violations & Fines
Section 19-20 sends violations to the general penalty in section 1-9: a fine up to $500 or up to 60 days, each day a separate offense. Operating without a business tax receipt adds a 25 percent penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do door-to-door salespeople need a permit in Gainesville?
What hours can solicitors come to my door?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gainesville
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Gainesville to another location·View the Florida soliciting & door-to-door overview
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