Philadelphia, PA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Yes, from Licenses & Inspections
- Annual license fee
- $330 (plus $20 application)
- Vending hours
- 7 a.m. to midnight only
- Must display
- Badge and vendor license plate
- Unlicensed vending fine
- $150-$300 per violation
Summary
Anyone peddling, hawking, or selling house-to-house in Philadelphia must first get a Street Vendor license from Licenses and Inspections under City Code Section 9-203.
Street Vendor. Any person travelling by foot, wagon, motor vehicle or any other type of conveyance from place to place, house to house or street to street ... shall include any "vendor", "peddler", "hawker", "huckster", "itinerant merchant"... It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of a street vendor unless he or she has first obtained a license from the Department of Licenses and Inspections.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 Code: Electronic version of The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter is current through August 19, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Philadelphia Code Section 9-203 defines a "street vendor" to include any vendor, peddler, hawker, huckster, itinerant merchant, or transient vendor traveling house to house or street to street selling goods. Before doing business, the person must obtain a license from the Department of Licenses and Inspections, which issues a license plate and photo identification badge that must be worn on the outer garment while vending. Licenses run January 1 to December 31 and require a $20 non-refundable application fee credited toward a $330 annual fee. Vending is barred between midnight and 7 a.m.
Violations & Fines
General Title 9 penalty applies: a fine of no less than $150 nor more than $300 per violation, with each day a separate offense. Licenses can also be suspended or revoked for fraud, misrepresentation, or creating a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to peddle door-to-door in Philadelphia?
How much does a Philadelphia vendor license cost?
What happens if I sell without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Philadelphia
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