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

Under Chapter 5.28 of the Gardena Municipal Code, an applicant must file a sworn application with the city manager at least fifteen days before the solicitation begins, listing the applicant's name and address, the organization's national, state and local headquarters, the purpose of the drive, the total amount sought, and the bank where collected funds will be deposited. Every professional solicitor, meaning anyone paid to raise funds for another person or organization, must be fingerprinted and photographed by the Gardena Police Department and pay a fee set by City Council resolution, and must also hold a valid city business license under Section 5.08.510.

The city manager can refuse a permit if the application appears untruthful or if granting it would likely let fraud occur, but must issue one once satisfied the applicant is acting in good faith. A permit cannot authorize solicitation for more than ninety days, though the city manager can grant one ninety-day extension for hardship. Solicitors must carry credentials identifying the permit holder and, on collecting a dollar or more, must give the contributor a signed written receipt showing the permit number and date. No permit is required for solicitation conducted entirely by mail, and telephone solicitation is limited to bona fide members of the sponsoring organization.

An applicant denied a permit can appeal to the city clerk within five days, and the City Council must hold a hearing within twenty-one days and issue a final ruling.