Howard County, MD Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Issuing office
- Office of Consumer Protection Administrator
- ID card term
- July 1 through June 30
- General hours
- 9 a.m. to sunset
- Food-vehicle hours
- 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Criminal penalty
- $50-$500 fine or 30 days jail
- Appeal path
- Board of Appeals hearing
Summary
Anyone going door-to-door in Howard County to sell goods, take orders, or collect charitable donations must first get an identification card from the Office of Consumer Protection. The card costs an annual fee set by the County Council, must be carried and shown on request, and restricts activity to 9 a.m. to sunset, except food vendors working from a vehicle, who may work 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
No person shall engage in soliciting or peddling in the County unless that person has obtained an identification (ID) card from the Administrator, as provided by this subtitle. ... Soliciting or peddling shall be conducted within the County only between 9:00 a.m. and sunset each day, except that the peddling of foodstuffs from a vehicle shall be permitted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. each day.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 91 | Zoning: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
Under Title 14, Subtitle 7, 'peddling' means going house to house selling and simultaneously delivering goods, wares or foodstuffs, while 'soliciting' covers taking orders for future delivery, magazine subscriptions, or charitable donations. Every solicitor or peddler needs an ID card from the Administrator of the Office of Consumer Protection (Sec. 701), running from July 1 to June 30 each year (Sec. 702). Applicants must give their name, address, date of birth, physical description, employer, and vehicle tag number; food peddlers also need a separate Bureau of Environmental Health permit (Sec.
703). Vehicles must display a metal tag reading 'Registered Howard County Peddler. ___. Expires___' (Sec. 705). The Administrator can deny, revoke, or suspend a card for prior denials, inaccurate information, or refusing to leave a property on request, with written notice and a right to a hearing and appeal to the Board of Appeals (Sec. 704). Exceptions cover invited guests, wholesale sellers, farm-produce sellers, registered charities, licensed Maryland insurance and real estate agents, election campaigners, and companies bound by an approved code of ethics that register annually (Sec. 706). The Administrator keeps a current list of card holders and registered organizations and shares it with the Police Department (Sec. 708).
Violations & Fines
Violating the subtitle is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00, up to 30 days in jail, or both. The Office of Consumer Protection or the Police Department may instead pursue civil penalties under Title 24; a first violation is a Class D offense and later violations are Class B offenses (Sec. 14.710).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do charities need a solicitor ID card in Howard County?
What hours can peddlers and solicitors work in Howard County?
What happens if my ID card is denied or revoked?
Can real estate or insurance agents skip the ID card?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
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