Pocatello, ID Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing office
- City Clerk
- Individual bond
- $1,000 surety bond
- Business bond cap
- $5,000 for all employees
- Background check
- fingerprints, Idaho State Police and FBI
- License term
- 1 year, renewable
- Max penalty
- $300 fine or 30 days jail (§ 5.52.220)
Summary
Anyone knocking on doors in the City of Pocatello to sell goods or take future orders, or to solicit contributions on private property, must first get a license from the City Clerk under § 5.52.030. Individual solicitors and peddlers must also post a $1,000.00 surety bond under § 5.52.080, and a criminal background check and fingerprinting are required before the license issues.
It shall be unlawful for any solicitor or peddler to engage in such business or to employ any person in such business within the corporate limits of the city without first obtaining a license issued by the city clerk in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, whether said solicitor or peddler is an individual, or a business entity which employs or contracts with individuals to solicit or peddle. All solicitors and peddlers must meet all applicable local, state (including Southeast district health regulations and requirements), and federal statutes and regulations and licensing requirements to be issued and to maintain a city issued license. ... Every applicant licensed as a solicitor or peddler who is not an employee or agent of a licensed business entity shall file with the city clerk or the clerk's designee, a bond in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 5.52 licenses door to door solicitors and peddlers to protect residents from fraud and burglary and to limit unwelcome disturbance, per § 5.52.010. A solicitor takes orders for future delivery or requests political, charitable or religious contributions at a private residence without invitation; a peddler carries goods for immediate sale under the same circumstances. Applicants file a written application with the city clerk under § 5.52.050 that includes a photo ID, a description of the business and vehicle, any felony or misdemeanor history, and two 2-inch by 2-inch photographs, and § 5.52.060 requires fingerprints for an Idaho State Police and FBI background check, with denial possible for any conviction, other than minor traffic offenses, within the past five years.
License fees are nonrefundable and set by City Council resolution under § 5.52.070, and a license lasts one year. Individual solicitors and peddlers must post a $1,000.00 surety bond under § 5.52.080, while a business entity must bond each employee for $1,000.00 up to a $5,000.00 cap. The city clerk must approve or deny an application within sixty days, and a denied applicant may request a hearing before the City Council within sixty days of the denial notice under §§ 5.52.090 and 5.52.100. Fundraising sales by local student groups, service clubs like the Elks, Kiwanis, Lions, Boy or Girl Scouts, and court-ordered sales are exempt from licensing under § 5.52.040.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting or peddling in the City of Pocatello without the § 5.52.030 license, misrepresenting the purpose of a sale, or continuing to solicit after being told no, are unlawful conduct under § 5.52.150. A violation is a misdemeanor under § 5.52.220, punishable by up to a $300.00 fine, up to thirty days in the county jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do door-to-door salespeople need a permit in Pocatello?
How big a bond does a Pocatello peddler need?
Are Scout or school fundraisers exempt?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pocatello
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