Pasco, WA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Chapter 5.65 PMC defines a solicitor as any person who goes house to house or place to place selling, taking orders for, or offering goods, wares, merchandise, or services, whether or not they carry samples or collect advance payment. PMC 5.65.020 makes it unlawful to act as a solicitor in the City without a license issued under the chapter. Applicants file a written application with the City Clerk (PMC 5.65.030) disclosing name and address, employer information, length of service, prior year's residence and employment, the goods or services offered, a personal description, any criminal or municipal-ordinance convictions with dates and penalties, and a bank reference for the company (PMC 5.65.040).

Under PMC 5.65.050, license types listed there require a state and federal background investigation including fingerprints submitted to the Washington State Patrol and FBI, with the applicant paying the state/federal fees in addition to the City fee set by Chapter 3.35 PMC. The application is referred to the Chief of Police for an investigation of character and business responsibility (PMC 5.65.070); if unsatisfactory, the Clerk denies the license, and if satisfactory, the Clerk issues it upon payment of the fee and filing of any required bond.

Licenses run one year and may be renewed without a new investigation if renewal is filed within 10 days of expiration (PMC 5.65.080); otherwise the renewal request is treated as a new application. The license must be carried at all times while soliciting and shown to any police officer or person solicited on request (PMC 5.65.120). Chapter 5.65 does not apply to religious, charitable, or political solicitors, including anonymous political speech and noncommercial handbill distribution, nor to several enumerated categories such as insurance salesmen, farm-produce peddlers, newspaper carriers, and licensed route salespeople (PMC 5.65.130).