Madison, WI Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

14 of the Madison General Ordinances, no person may travel from house to house soliciting contributions for any cause, canvass for orders for goods, wares, merchandise or services, or offer to give or furnish goods or services to induce orders, without first applying to and receiving a Solicitor's Permit from the City Clerk. The written application must include the applicant's name and signature, a copy of fingerprints taken by an authorized law enforcement agency, a 2-inch by 2-inch photograph taken within the prior year, the applicant's permanent and local addresses, a description of the business and goods sold, employer information if applicable, the length of time the solicitor intends to operate, the source of supply of goods, any criminal or ordinance-violation history, and the three cities or villages where the applicant most recently did business.

A nonrefundable $110 investigation fee accompanies the initial application, and annual renewal applications carry the same $110 fee. The section exempts Junior Achievement of Madison and Madison Chapter Distributive Education Club representatives, state-licensed real estate brokers and insurance agents, political candidates, merchants delivering goods in the regular course of business, government agents performing official duties, and peddlers already licensed under Sec. 15. Permits must be carried and shown on request to any police officer or solicited person, are personal to the holder, and expire December 31 regardless of issue date unless a shorter term is stated.

The City Clerk may revoke a permit for fraud or misrepresentation in the application or in the course of business, any ordinance violation, conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, or conducting business in an unlawful manner that breaches the peace. A revoked or denied applicant must wait at least six months before reapplying, and renewal filings after December 31 draw a 25% late fee.