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Prince George's County, MD Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
PG County Code § 5-202
Permitted hours
9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
First-offense penalty (unlicensed solicitation)
Up to $1,000, up to 6 months jail
Third-offense penalty (contract/prohibited-act violations)
$5,000 plus license revocation
Senior fraud penalty
$5,000 fine, up to 6 months jail
Reapplication wait after denial/revocation
6 months

Summary

Anyone going door-to-door in Prince George's County to sell goods or request donations must first get a solicitor's license from the Director of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement. Solicitation is limited to 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and licenses can be denied, suspended, or revoked for repeated violations or fraud.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Prince George's County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Sec. 5-202. - License required. Any person who intends to act in the capacity of a solicitor shall, prior to entering into or upon any residential dwelling or commercial establishment within the County to act in such capacity, obtain a license therefor from the Director, except those persons, partnerships, or corporations specifically exempted under Sections 5-207.06 and 5-207.07 of this Division. ... Sec. 5-207.08. - Hours of solicitation. No solicitation shall be conducted except between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. each day; provided, that solicitations may be made where the person solicited has agreed by previously arranged appointment for a time other than the prescribed hours.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 5-202 requires any person intending to act as a solicitor, whether visiting residential dwellings or commercial establishments, to obtain a license from the Director before entering onto the property, unless exempted under Sec. 07. Sec. 5-203 requires the application to include the applicant's physical description, the goods or services being offered, the employer or organization represented, two 2-inch photographs, any vehicle information, and a full disclosure of any prior felony or misdemeanor conviction. Sec. 5-207 sets the license fee according to the County's Table of Fees, and Sec.

5-206 requires the applicant to post a bond. Sec. daily, unless the person solicited has arranged a different time by appointment. Sec. 01 lets the Director deny, suspend, or revoke a license for willful violations of the Division, repeated noncompliance, a criminal conviction related to the license, a prior denial or revocation in another jurisdiction, or violations of consumer protection law; a revoked or denied applicant cannot reapply for six months. Sec. 05 lists prohibited acts, and Sec. 04 requires solicitors to provide a receipt or copy of any contract with cancellation rights.

The Division treats solicitation targeting seniors, defined as anyone 65 or older, and high-risk industries such as HVAC, roofing, and solar installation as heightened concerns subject to additional scrutiny under Sec. 5-201's definitions.

Violations & Fines

Soliciting without a required license, or continuing after denial, suspension, or revocation, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail under Sec. 5-207.09(a). Violating the contract-disclosure rule in Sec. 5-207.04 or the prohibited-acts rule in Sec. 5-207.05 escalates from $1,000 for a first offense to $3,000 for a second and $5,000 plus license revocation and up to six months in jail for a third. Defrauding a senior through door-to-door solicitation carries a flat $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail under Sec. 5-207.09(d).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to go door-to-door selling in Prince George's County?
Yes. Sec. 5-202 requires anyone soliciting at a residential dwelling or commercial establishment to obtain a license from the Director of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement first, unless a specific exemption applies.
What hours can a licensed solicitor knock on doors?
Only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. under Sec. 5-207.08, unless the resident has already agreed to a different time by prior appointment.
What happens if a solicitor's license is denied or revoked?
The person cannot apply for another license for six months, per Sec. 5-207.01(c), and continuing to solicit after denial or revocation is a misdemeanor under Sec. 5-207.09(a) punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Prince George's County

All Prince George's County rules

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