Lynnwood, WA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LMC 5.20.010
- Investigation fee
- $74 per new employee
- Daily special license fee
- $23 per day
- Charitable exemption
- Schools, scouts, religious groups
- License must be carried
- At all times while peddling
Summary
Lynnwood, Washington requires anyone peddling goods, services or things door to door, or from a stand on unenclosed property, to hold a peddler's license under LMC 5.20.010 before starting. Charitable, school and religious groups are exempt, and licensed peddlers must carry the license and produce it on demand.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to peddle any article, service or thing within the city of Lynnwood ("Lynnwood"), except as otherwise provided, without first procuring a license to do so, to be known as a "peddler's license." Each peddler's license shall specify articles, services or things to be peddled, and the time for which the same is to be issued. No license shall be required to peddle merchandise for a charitable organization including but not limited to schools, nonprofit organizations such as the scouts, or religious institutions located within the city.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3512, passed May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020 defines a "peddler" as anyone who goes house to house or place to place in Lynnwood selling, offering to sell, or soliciting offers to buy goods, wares, merchandise, services or things of value at retail, or who stands or sits in a doorway, vacant lot or other spot not used as a permanent place of business while offering items for sale. 010 makes peddling without first obtaining a peddler's license unlawful, with the license specifying exactly what articles, services or things may be peddled and for how long; it carves out an exception so no license is required to peddle merchandise for a charitable organization, including schools, scouting groups or religious institutions in the city.
040 and must include the proposed license duration, the item or service to be sold and its price, the applicant's employment history for the prior two years, any similar licenses held elsewhere in that period, and a statement of prior criminal convictions. 050 lets the director investigate each applicant and denies a license to anyone who makes a false material statement on the application. 070 requires the peddler to carry the license at all times and produce it on demand to the business license clerk, any police officer, or any customer.
060 separately makes it unlawful to enter or remain on posted private property after being warned against trespassing, treating a clearly legible posted sign as sufficient warning. 090 or other state law, but requires anyone peddling under state certificate to show that certificate to the business license clerk before starting in Lynnwood.
Violations & Fines
Peddling without a license, or entering posted property to peddle after being warned off, is unlawful conduct under Chapter 5.20; because the chapter sets no separate penalty, a violation is a misdemeanor under the general Title 5 penalty in LMC 5.04.130, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both. Making a false material statement on the license application results in denial of the license under LMC 5.20.050.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do charities need a peddler's license to sell in Lynnwood?
Can a Lynnwood peddler operate on a single day without a full license?
What must a Lynnwood peddler do if a customer asks to see their license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynnwood
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