Huntington Beach, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daily peddler fee
- $17.00 per day (novelty/route peddlers)
- Annual peddler fee
- $97.50 per year
- Issuing office
- City Treasurer, City of Huntington Beach
- Unlicensed activity penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
- Late payment penalty
- 10% per month under Sec. 5.08.100
- Veteran exemption
- Disabled honorably discharged veterans, 30-day free license
- Appeal window
- 15 days to City Clerk after suspension/revocation
Summary
Anyone going door to door in Huntington Beach to sell goods, take orders, or solicit without a fixed local business address needs a City business license before knocking on a single door. Peddlers of novelties like balloons, kites, and toys pay $17 a day or $97.50 a year; route peddlers and food-catering vehicles pay the same tiered fee per person or vehicle.
Peddlers of flags, banners, balloons, cones, horns, kites, noise-making instruments, toys, notions, souvenirs or similar goods or novelties of any description other than from a stand, tent, wagon or other vehicle shall pay a fee of $17.00 D or by vehicle $97.50 A. Peddlers of any article or commodity not mentioned in this section, including every person, firm or corporation conducting the business of selling and delivering any goods for human consumption directly to the consumer thereof, by means of a regular system of delivery vehicles for the purpose of making sales and deliveries upon a fixed route, or in the case of food catering vehicles, from place to place, within this City shall pay a fee of $17.00 D or $97.50 A. The license tax prescribed by this section shall cover one person and in the case of route peddlers, one vehicle only and an additional like fee shall be paid for each additional such person or vehicle so engaged.
Full Breakdown
04 defines a 'peddler' as anyone without a fixed place of business in the City who goes house to house or along City streets offering tangible goods, wares or merchandise for sale, and a 'solicitor or canvasser' as anyone doing the same for intangibles like subscriptions, stock, or future-delivery orders. 180 requires a written application to the City Treasurer disclosing the exact nature of the business and, if there is no permanent business location, the peddler's place of residence. 50 annually, and the same tiered rate applies to route peddlers delivering food for human consumption; each additional person or vehicle needs its own license.
100 adds a 10% penalty per month on any license fee paid late. 020(C) lets an honorably discharged, physically disabled veteran peddle without paying the license fee for 30 days at a time, after filing a disability certificate, discharge papers and two photo IDs with the City Treasurer. 300 if the business becomes detrimental to public health, morals or safety.
Violations & Fines
Operating as a peddler or solicitor in Huntington Beach without a license is a misdemeanor under Section 5.08.370, punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both, and every day of unlicensed activity is a separate offense under Section 1.16.020. A licensee whose conduct is detrimental to public safety or morals can have the license suspended or revoked by the City Treasurer, with 15 days to appeal to the City Clerk under Section 5.08.310.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell door-to-door in Huntington Beach?
How much does a Huntington Beach peddler license cost?
What happens if I solicit in Huntington Beach without a license?
Can a disabled veteran peddle for free in Huntington Beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntington Beach
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