Montgomery County, VA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Outside Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Section 5-2 defines a solicitor as anyone who goes door-to-door visiting single or multifamily homes to sell goods or services, take subscriptions or orders, conduct surveys, or request donations for a charitable purpose. Before entering any residential premises to solicit, the person must register with the sheriff and supply name, local and permanent addresses, age, race, weight, height, hair and eye color and other distinguishing physical traits, the purpose and nature of what is being sold or requested, the employer or organization represented, a statement of any felony or misdemeanor conviction with details, and a current criminal record report.

Once that information is on file, the sheriff issues a photo permit valid for one year from issuance, which the solicitor must carry and display on demand while soliciting; the permit is denied outright if the applicant has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude. A fee set by resolution of the board of supervisors covers the investigation and processing cost and is non-refundable. The ordinance separately bars entering under false pretenses, staying after being told to leave, entering past a posted No Soliciting sign, soliciting without a permit, or lying on the application.

Exceptions cover invited visitors, unpaid civic or charitable volunteers with organizational identification, sellers of insurance, newspapers, magazines or fresh farm products, and regular weekly delivery drivers whose solicitation is incidental to their route.