Newport News, VA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual license tax
- $325 per year
- Decal fee
- $1 per decal
- Farm-product sellers
- exempt if self-grown
- False certificate penalty
- Class 4 misdemeanor
Summary
Door-to-door peddlers and itinerant merchants in Newport News must hold an annual license taxed at $325, display a commissioner-issued decal on their vehicle, and follow separate rules for produce, seafood, and dairy sellers.
(a)Every retail peddler and itinerant merchant shall annually pay a license tax of three hundred twenty-five dollars ($325.00) per year.(b)This subsection shall not apply to those who sell or offer for sale...ice, wood, charcoal, meats, milk, butter, eggs, poultry, fish, oysters, game, vegetables, fruits or other family supplies of a perishable nature, or farm products grown or produced by them and not purchased by them for sale.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
Under §23-50, every retail peddler and itinerant merchant must obtain an annual city license, taxed at $325 per year, and display a Commissioner-of-the-Revenue-issued decal on the left side of their vehicle. The requirement exempts sellers of perishable farm products, ice, meats, milk, eggs, poultry, fish, vegetables, and fruit, grown or produced by the seller, plus dairy vehicles selling milk and eggs on city streets. Bona fide producers must still file a certificate describing the land and crop before receiving a decal. A person who promotes a multi-vendor 'show and sale' may obtain one itinerant merchant's license covering it instead of licensing each vendor.
Violations & Fines
Peddling without the required license or decal is unlawful under §23-6; falsifying the producer's certificate or misusing a decal is a Class 4 misdemeanor under §23-50(g).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do farmers selling their own produce need a peddler's license?
What must a peddler display while selling?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newport News
Compare Newport News to another location·View the Virginia soliciting & door-to-door overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.