Portsmouth, VA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual peddler license tax
- $500 (§20-23(a))
- Perishable-goods peddler rate
- $50/yr (§20-24)
- Max time in one spot
- 10 minutes (§20-23(c))
- Issuing office
- Commissioner of the Revenue
- Street-vending violation
- Class 4 misdemeanor per offense (§20-23(c))
Summary
Every door-to-door peddler in Portsmouth must buy a $500 annual license from the commissioner of the revenue, cannot park or stand in one street location more than ten minutes, and cannot sell in front of a competing business, under City Code § 20-23.
(a)Every person peddling goods, wares, merchandise or products of any description or who sells any items door-to-door, shall pay a license tax of $500.00 per year.(b)A peddler is defined as any person who carries from place to place any goods, wares, food or merchandise purchased for resale and offers to sell, or actually sells and delivers, the same at retail. The definition of "peddler" set out in Code of Virginia, § 58.1-3717 is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.(c)No peddler shall be permitted, while doing business as a peddler to keep his vehicle in one location on the streets for a longer period of time than ten minutes, and shall not make sales in front of or near a place of business where business similar to that conducted by the peddler is transacted. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a class 4 misdemeanor for each such offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
1-3717. 00 per year to the commissioner of the revenue before working the city. 00 annual tax under the separate classification in § 20-24, but are held to the same street-vending limits. Subsection (c) of § 20-23 bars any peddler from parking a vehicle in one spot on the street for more than ten minutes and forbids selling in front of or near a business that sells similar goods. Charitable and civic organizations soliciting funds or door-to-door donations fall under a different registration scheme in Chapter 26, Article III, rather than the peddler's license tax.
A peddler operating without paying the required license tax is separately exposed to the general business-license penalty in § 20-4, a Class 1 misdemeanor, on top of any citation for violating the ten-minute and competing-business rules in § 20-23(c).
Violations & Fines
Keeping a vehicle in one street location more than ten minutes, or selling in front of a business that sells similar merchandise, is a Class 4 misdemeanor under § 20-23(c), charged for each such offense. Peddling without first paying the $500.00 annual license tax exposes the seller to the separate Class 1 misdemeanor penalty in § 20-4 for operating without a required business license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell door-to-door in Portsmouth?
Can I park my truck on one block all day to sell?
Is the fee lower if I sell produce I grew myself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portsmouth
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