Redlands, CA Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Redlands City Code Section 5.60.040 makes it unlawful for any solicitor, peddler or itinerant salesman to "commence or carry on any lawful solicitation or peddling in the city without first having procured a certificate of registration from the chief of police." Applicants apply at the finance director's office under Section 5.60.100, giving their name, employer, a description of the goods or services offered, home and local addresses, and start date. Section 5.60.110 sets a nonrefundable $5.00 application fee, plus state fingerprint-processing costs. Under Section 5.60.120 the applicant is fingerprinted and photographed (two 2-inch by 2-inch photos taken within the prior 60 days are accepted in lieu of a new photo), and the chief of police approves the application under Section 5.60.130 if satisfied the applicant's "character and business responsibility are such that he will not endanger the public safety" and the activity involves no trickery, fraud or deceit.

The certificate issued under Section 5.60.140 is valid for 12 months (Section 5.60.150) and must be carried and displayed on demand of any police officer or member of the public (Section 5.60.170). Section 5.60.180 restricts activity to between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., unless the visit is by a specific prior appointment. The chapter exempts wholesale salesmen, growers selling their own produce, vendors on established delivery routes, merchants with fixed locations, and newspaper subscription or advertising solicitation (Sections 5.60.050-5.60.090). A certificate can be revoked by the chief of police after notice and a hearing for fraud, misrepresentation, any violation of the chapter, a moral-turpitude conviction, or conduct endangering public safety (Section 5.60.220); the registrant may appeal to the city council within 15 days by filing a written statement with the city clerk (Section 5.60.240), and the council's decision on appeal is final (Section 5.60.260).